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MEMOIRS 


OF 


MRS.  JOAMA  BETHUNE 


BY  HER  SON, 


THE  REV.  GEORGE  W.  'BETHUNE,  D.D. 


WITH  AN  APPENDIX, 

CONTAINITsG 

EXTKACTS  FROM  THE  WRITINGS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 


NEW    YORK: 

HARPER    &    BROTHERS,    PUBLISHERS, 

FEANKLIN    SQUABE. 

18G3. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congi'ess,  in  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  sixty-two,  by 

HAKPER  &  BROTHERS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


EDITOR'S  NOTE. 

About  one  year  before  tlie  Eev.  Dr.  Bethune  went 
abroad  and  died,  he  asked  me  to  aid  him  in  prepar- 
ing a  biographical  sketch  of  his  mother.  He  desired 
me  to  read  her  journals,  meditations^  recorded  pray- 
ers and  letters,  and  from  them 'to  select  such  pas- 
sages as  might  be  thought  useful  if  published  as  an 
Appendix  to  the  Memoir.  After  I  had  completed 
the  examination,  I  placed  the  manuscripts  in  his 
hands,  with  the  selected  passages  marked ;  and  he 
then  wrote  the  Memoir  which  is  now  presented  to 
the  reader.  It  is  his  last  work — a  beautiful  living 
tribute  by  a  gifted,  affectionate  son  to  his  sainted 
mother.  Other  works  of  this  eloquent  and  distin- 
guished scholar,  poet,  preacher,  and  orator  have  been 
published,  but  nothing  from  his  pen  will  be  read 
with  greater  admiration  than  this  simple  memorial 
of  the  mother  who  taught  him  to  speak. 

The  extracts  from  the  writings  of  Mrs.  Joanna  Be- 
thune, which  are  given  as  an  Appendix  to  the  Me- 
moir, are  a  rich  legacy  to  the  Church.  In  many 
respects  they  are  not  less  valuable  and  interesting 


than  the  remains  of  her  remarkable  mother,  Mrs.  Isa- 
bella Graham.  They  exhibit  a  life  of  extraordinary 
activity,  of  deep  spiritual  feeling,  and  strong  faith,  in 
the  promises  of  God  to  parents  for  their  children  and 
children's  children. 

Extending  over  a  long  series  of  years,  tliese  ex- 
tracts, which  might  have  been  'continued  to  fill  sev- 
eral volumes,  complete- the  biography  written  by  her 
son,  and  show  the  mother  in  the  midst  of  her  inces- 
sant toil  for  the  young :  founding  the  Sunday-school 
Union  system,  Infant  Schools,  the  Orphan  Asylum, 
and  abounding  in  every  good  work,  humbly  seeking 
Divine  aid  in  the  minutest  and  most  secular  duties, 
and,  above  all,  praying  without  ceasing  for  the  con- 
version of  her  posterity  to  the  latest  generation. 

Christian  ladies  will  read  these  pages,  and  be  stim- 
ulated and  guided  in  noble  self-denying  labors  for 
the  world  around  them ;  and  aged  women  will  here 
find  a  beautiful  example  of  holy  living  and  dying 
that  will  comfort  and  cheer  them  in  the  evening  of 
their  days. 

The  life  of  the  author  of  this  Memoir  remains  to 
be  written.  His  death,  so  sudden  and  in  a  far-away 
country,  was  a  shock  and  a  grief  to  his  friends  and 
the  Christian  community  from  which,  they  have  not 
yet  recovered ;  but  they  will  receive  with  mournful 
satisfaction  these  last  fruits  of  his  pen,  the  yearnings 


of  his  warm  heart  for  her  with  whom  he  is  now  at    i 
rest  in  glory.  ^ 

The  hnes  below,  addressed  some  years  ago  by  the 
Eev.  Dr.  Bethune  to  his  mother,  will  give  the  reader 
a  vivid  idea  of  the  tender  feeling  with  which  the  Me- 
moir is  written : 

TO  MY  MOTHER. 

My  mother !     Manhood's  anxious  broAv 

And  sterner  cares  have  long  been  mine, 
Yet  turn  I  to  thee  fondly  now, 

As  when  upon  thy  bosom's  shrine 
My  infant  griefs  were  gently  hush'd  to  rest, 
And  thy  low- whisper 'd  prayers  my  slumber  blcss'd. 

I  never  call  that  gentle  name, 

My  mother !  but  I  am  again 
E'en  as  a  child ;  the  very  same 

That  prattled  at  thy  knee ;  and  fain 
Would  I  forget,  in  momentary  joy, 
That  I  no  more  can  be  thy  happy  boy ; 

The  artless  boy,  to  whom  thy  smile 

Was  sunshine,  and  thy  frown  sad  night 
(Though  rare  that  frown,  and  brief  the  while 

It  veil'd  from  me  thy  loving  light) ; 
For  well-conn'd  task,  ambition's  highest  bliss, 
To  win  from  thine  approving  lips  a  kiss. 

I've  loved  through  foreign  lands  to  roam, 

And  gazed  o'er  many  a  classic  scene ; 
Yet  would  the  tliouglit  of  that  dear  home, 

Which  once  was  ours,  oft  intervene, 


VI 


And  bid  me  close  again  my  weary  eye, 

To  think  of  thee  and  those  sweet  days  gone  by. 

That  pleasant  home  of  fruits  and  flowers, 
Where  by  the  Hudson's  verdant  side 

My  sisters  wove  their  jasmine  bowers. 
And  he  we  loved,  at  eventide. 

Would  hastening  come  from  distant  toil  to  bless 

Thine  and  his  children's  radiant  happiness. 

Alas  the  change !  the  rattling  car 

On  flint-paved  streets  profanes  the  spot, 

Where  o'er  the  sod  we  sow'd  the  Star 
Of  Bethlehem  and  forget-me-not. 

Oil,  woe  to  Mammon's  desolating  reign  ! 

We  ne'er  shall  find  on  earth  a  home  again. 

I've  pored  o'er  many  a  yellow  page 

Of  ancient  wisdom,  and  have  won, 
Perchance,  a  scholar's  name ;  but  sage 

Or  bard  have  never  taught  thy  son 
Lessons  so  dear,  so  fraught  with  holy  truth, 
As  those  his  mother's  faith  shed  on  his  youth. 

If,  by  the  Saviour's  grace  made  meet. 
My  God  will  own  my  life  and  love, 

Methinks,  when  singing  at  His  feet. 
Amid  the  ransom'd  throng  above. 

Thy  name  upon  my  glowing  lips  shall  be, 

And  I  will  bless  that  grace  for  heaven  and  thee— 

For  thee  and  heaven  ;  for  thou  didst  tread 
The  way  that  leads  me  heavenward,  and 

My  often  way^vard  footsteps  led 

In  the  satne  jiath  with  patient  hand  ; 


EDITOR  S  NOTE.  Vll 

And  when  I  wandcr'cl  far,  thy  earnest  call 
Restored  my  soul  from  sin's  deceitful  thrall. 

I  have  been  bless'd  with  other  ties — 

Fond  ties  and  true  ;  yet  never  deem 
That  I  the  less  thy  fondness  prize ; 

No,  mother  !  in  my  warmest  dream 
Of  answer'd  passion,  through  this  heart  of  mine 
One  chord  will  vibrate  to  no  name  but  thine. 

Mother,  thy  name  is  widow.     Well 

I  know  no  love  of  mine  can  fill  , 

The  waste  place  of  thy  heart,  or  dwell 

Within  one  sacred  recess  ;  still. 
Lean  on  the  faithful  bosom  of  thy  son. 
My  parent — thou  art  mine,  my  only  one  I 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PARENTAGE. 

Reasons  for  Writing. — Death  of  Contemporaries. — Memories  of  Isa- 
bella Graham.— Entail  of  Grace.— Pious  Parentage.— Dr.  Gra- 
ham, of  the  British  Army.— Fort  Niagara.— The  "Doctor's  Gar- 
den."—Birth  of  Joanna  Graham  in  the  Fort Page  17 

CHAPTER  II. 

SCENES   OF   CHILDHOOD. 

The  Mother's  religious  Exercises. — Converse  with  God. — Religious 
Studies. — Removal  to  Antigua. — Toilsome  Journey  through  the 
Wilderness  of  New  York.  —  Mrs.  Major  Brown. — Death  of  Dr. 
Graham. — Mrs.  Graham  goes  to  Scotland. — Establishes  a  School 
for  Young  Ladies 25 

CHAPTER  III. 

EARLY   EDUCATION   AND   ASSOCIATIONS. 

At  School. — Her  Teachers. — Distinguished  Ministers. — Erskine. — 
Davidson. — Witherspoon. — A  Playmate  of  Walter  Scott, — i^ady 
Glenorchy ;  her  Biography 30 

CHAPTER  IV. 

AN  UNFINISHED   SKETCH   BY   HERSELF. 

Self-examination. — A  Retrospect. — Decline  of  Religion. — Orphan- 
age.— Restraints  of  Childhood. — A  Mother's  Care. — An  Aunt's 
Praises. — A  Minister's  Influence.  —  Death  of  a  Grandfather. — 
Lady  Glenorchy  and  her  Household. — Their  Habits  and  Example. 
— Goes  to  a  French  School  in  Rotterdam. — Its  effect  upon  her  re- 
ligious Character 37 

A  2 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 

MRS.  ISABELLA   GRAKAM'S    COUNSELS. 

Letter  to  a  Daughter  at  School. — Love  of  Enjoyment. — Discontent. 
— Great  Opportunities. — Pleasures  of  Home. — Mother's  Cares. — 
Advantages  of  Education. — Gratitude. Page  47 

CHAPTER  VI. 

RETURN   TO   AMERICA. 

Dr.  Graham's  Views  of  Settling  in  America. — Mrs.  Graham's  Plans. 
— Christian  Friends. — Dr.  Witherspoon. — Mrs.  Graham  and  Fam- 
ily arrive  in  New  York. — Reception. — Success. — Mrs.  Graham's 
School  and  Patrons 52 

CHAPTER  VII. 

EARLY   RELIGIOUS   LIFE. 

Joanna  Graham  a  Teacher. — Marries  Divie  Bethune,  Esq. — Her 
own  Record  of  Religious  Experience. — Remarkable  Conflicts. — 
Darkness. — Delirium. — Restoration  to  Health,  Peace,  and  Hap- 
piness  50 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

PLANS   OP   USEFULNESS. 

Mrs.  Graham's  Correspondence. — Origin  of  the  Monthly  Missionary 
Prayer-meeting.  — The  Mission  to  the  Indians. — Relief  of  Poor 
Widows  with  Small  Children. — New  York  Orphan  Asylum  ...  75 

CHAPTER  IX. 

MRS.  BETHUNe's   ASSOCIATES. 

Sketches  of  Mrs.  Lindsay,  Mrs.  Chiystie,  and  Mrs.  Mackanness.. .  79 
CHAPTER  X. 

INTRODUCTION   OF    SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 

Journey  to  Scotland. — Sunday-school  Movement  there. — Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bethune's  Labors  in  New  York  in  1802.— The  Mother  of 
Sabbath-schools  in  America. — Plans  of  Usefulness •..  88 


CONTENTS.  XI 

CHAPTER  XI. 

THE   ORPHAN   ASYLUM. 

Mrs.  Bethune's  Plans. — Life  of  Francke.  —  Mrs.  Hoffman. — Mr. 
Bcthune's  Address.  —  Public  Meeting.  —  Society  formed. — The 
Fundamental  Principle. — Power  of  Faith. — The  first  Home. — 
Larger  Accommodations. — The  Asylum  at  Bloomingdale. — Mrs. 
Bethune's  Agency,  Service,  and  Resignation.  —  Action  of  tlie 
Board  of  Managers , Page  03 

CHAPTER  XH. 

MRS.  HOFFMAN   AND   MRS.  STARTIN. 

The  Associates  of  Mrs.  Bethune. — Mrs.  Hoffman  and  Mrs.  Startin. 
— Their  Character  and  Services. — Testimonies  of  the  Board..  105 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

MRS.   GENERAL   HAMILTON. 

Mrs.  Hamilton  and  Mrs.  Bethune  compared, — Their  Attachment. — 
Mrs.  Hamilton's  Parentage. — Early  Life. — Married  Life. — Death 
of  Alexander  Hamilton. — Mrs.  Hamilton  in  Social  Life. — In  New 
York  and  Washington. — Her  declining  Years. — Death  and  Bur- 
ial   Ill 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  SUM  OF  HER  LABORS,  AND  HER  REST. 

Review. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bethune's  Plans. — Visit  of  Missionaries, — 
Church  Relations.  —  Sunday-schools.  —  Economical  School.  — 
House  of  Industry. — Instruction  of  the  Young. — Mrs,  Bethune's 
Death 118 


APPENDIX. 

EXTRACTS   FROM    MRS.   BETHUNe's   WRITINGS 125-250 


MEMOIRS 


OF 


MRS.  JOANNA  BETHUNE. 


MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAEENTAGE. 

Reasons  for  Writing. — Death  of  Contemporaries, — Memories  of  Isa- 
bella Graham. — Entail  of  Grace. — Pious  Parentage. — Dr.  Gra- 
ham, of  the  British  Army. — Fort  Niagara. — The  "Doctor's  Gar- 
den."— Birth  of  Joanna  Graham  in  the  Fort. 

The  eminent  and  wide -spread  usefulness  which 
God  granted  to  the  subject  of  this  memoir  has  caused 
a  general  desire  that  the  history  of  her  life  should  be 
written,  for  the  honor  of  Christ,  whom  she  followed, 
and  the  encouragement  of  His  disciples,  whom  she 
loved.  The  duty  of  complying  with  this  wish  of 
many  Christian  friends  devolves  on  her  only  son;  and 
he,  asking  God's  help,  gladly  undertakes  it,  though 
not  without  fear  lest  the  biographer  may  be  suspect- 
ed of  being  biased  by  his  affectionate  veneration,  and 
so  be  less  trustworthy  in  his  portraiture  of  his  moth- 
er's character  and  services  to  God  and  man.  But  it 
is  true,  on  the  other  hand,  that  none  had  better  op- 
portunities than  he  of  knowing  her  daily  life  in  pri- 
vate and  public,  or  of  hearing  from  her  own  lips  the 
reasons  and  motives  from  which  she  acted.  There  is 
also  less  danger  of  exaggerated  praise,  so  commonly 


16  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

the  fault  in  modern  religious  biography,  because,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  following  pages,  her  life  was  so 
full  of  activity  that  there  will  be  little  room  for  any 
thing  besides  a  detail  of  facts.  The  copious  extracts 
from  her  own  writings,  which  are  given  in  the  Ap- 
pendix, will  show  that,  for  herself,  she  depended  on 
the  free  sovereign  grace  of  Christ  alone,  and  gave  Him 
the  praise  of  the  good  works  He  had  wrought  in  her 
to  will  and  to  do  of  His  good  pleasure.  It  would  be 
most  inconsistent  with  the  spirit  of  so  humble  and 
devoted  a  Christian,  for  one  who  cherishes  her  mem- 
ory, so  beautiful  with  the  graces  of  the  Spirit,  to  over- 
charge with  personal  eulogy  a  life  which  derived  all 
its  beauty  and  strength  from  the  love  of  Christ  shed 
abroad  in  her  heart;  but  it  would  also  be  unjust  to 
that  divinest  principle  of  Christianity  if  the  genuine 
effects  of  evangelical  faith,  as  manifested  in  the  life- 
long, devoted  charities  of  Mrs.  Joanna  Bethune,  were 
allowed  to  be  forgotten,  or  set  forth  with  less  than 
actual  truth. 

The  author  has  occasion  for  regret  that  the  mate- 
rial and  authorities  for  an  accurate  and  full  history 
of  a  life  covering  a  period  of  nearly  a  century  are 
not  so  abundant  as  is  desirable  and  was  expected. 
Mrs.  Bethune,  though  not  unwilling  that  the  light  of 
God,  shining  in  her  experience  and  devotion  to  His 
service,  should  be  made  to  reflect  His  glory,  was  too 
busy  with  her  duties  for  any  anxiety  respecting  her 
own  credit.  She  adopted  as  an  axiom  the  counsel 
she  learned  from  the  lips  of  the  seraphic  Summerfield, 


PARENTAGE.  17 

that  "  a  Christian  should  never  bring  his  good  name 
home  to  nurse,"  and  left  hers  to  the  care  of  His  prov- 
idence in  whom  she  believed,  solicitous  rather  for  her 
record  on  high  than  the  opinions  even  of  Christians 
here.  At  the  time  of  her  death,  all  of  those  with 
whom  she  had  been  associated  in  the  most  active  and 
fruitful  years  of  her  benevolent  enterprise  had  gone 
to  their  rest ;  and  there  is  not  a  single  living  memo- 
ry which  can  be  found  to  corroborate  the  testimony 
which  has  been  gathered  into  these  pages,  from  rec- 
ords too  scanty,  but  undoubtedly  genuine.  For  some 
years  before  her  entrance  of  heaven,  her  long  and 
overtasked  brain  yielded  to  the  infirmity  of  extreme 
age,  and  she  was  not  capable  of  answering  inquiries 
which  would  otherwise  be  made  of  her  respecting 
facts,  incidents,  and  persons  connected  with  the  most 
important  passages  of  her  life.  Much ,  therefore,  which 
her  biographer  would  have  delighted  to  rescue  from 
oblivion  is  now  known  only  in  heaven  ;  and,  desirous 
of  recording  nothing  of  which  he  is  not  sure,  he  will 
resolutely  check  himself  in  conjecture,  and  record 
what  he  knows  to  be  true. 

It  is  also  well  known  to  the  readers  of  the  Life  of 
Mrs.  Isabella  Graham,  and  they  constitute  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  Christian  public,  that  the  instrumental- 
ity of  Mrs.  Bethune  was  closely  connected  with  that 
of  her  eminent  mother  and  her  equally  devoted  hus- 
band, Divie  Bethune,  whose  biography,  full  of  praise 
to  God,  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  author,  by  God's  leave, 
to  prepare  for  publication  when  his* present  work  is 


18  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

completed.  Much,  therefore,  that  properly  belongs  to 
a,  life  of  Mrs.  Bethune  is  now  before  the  public  in  the 
Life  of  Mrs.  Graham,  or  will  be  when  Mr.  Bethune's 
memoir  is  given  to  the  press.  But  care  will  be  taken 
to  avoid  repetition,  as  far  as  is  possible,  consistently 
with  a  due  regard  to  historical  truth. 

The  blessing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  rested  on 
the  mind  and  heart  of  Mrs.  Joanna  Bethune  from  her 
earliest  childhood,  out  of  which  sprang  her  ardent 
desires,  her  indefatigable  efforts  and  successful  plans 
for  evangelical  usefulness,  are  striking  proofs  of  God's 
faithfulness  in  His  covenant  to  bestow  His  grace  upon 
the  children  of  His  faithful  servants  unto  the  third 
and  fourth  generations.  She  received  the  entail  of 
religion  through  a  line  of  pious  ancestors  even  longer 
than  that  specified  in  the  promise. 

The  parents  of  her  mother,  Mrs.  Graham,  Mr.  John 
and  Mrs.  Janet  Marshall,  were  both  pious,  Mrs.  Mar- 
shall's father  having  been  an  approved  elder  of  the 
Scottish  Secession  Church,  which  he  joined  with  the 
Erskines  (Ralph  and  Ebenezer) ;  and  the  traditions 
of  the  family  carry  the  strain  of  sanctified  blood  far- 
ther back  than  records  or  memory  of  names  enable 
us  to  reach.  The  same  care  of  God,  preparatory  to 
the  life  designed  for  her,  will  be  seen  throughout  her 
early  history  and  peculiar  training,  as  described  in 
the  following  pages. 

Joanna  was  the  second  daughter  of  Dr.  John  and 
IsabelLa  Graham.  Dr.  Graham  was  a  widower,  with 
two  sons,  at  the  lime  of  his  marriage  to  Isabella,  both 


PARENTAGE.  19 

of  his  sons  afterward  becoming  distinguished  in  the 
British  army ;  one  of  them,  Samuel,  after  a  career  of 
honorable  valor,  attaining  the  high  rank  of  general, 
and  being  rewarded  with  the  posts  of  Inspector  Gen- 
eral of  the  forces  in  Scotland  and  Governor  of  the 
Eoyal  Castle  of  Stirling,  where  he  resided  for  many 
years.  The  other  brother  was  arrested  in  his  milita- 
ry career  by  receiving  a  shot  through  his  body  at  the 
siege  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  although  he  survived  his 
wound,  and  subsequently  married  a  lady  of  that  state. 

Dr.  Graham,  on  thus  beginning  life  anew,  cherished 
a  plan  of  settling  in  America,  somewhere  along  the 
line  of  the  Mohawk  Eiver,  and  was  glad  to  relinquish 
his  private  and  not  unremunerative  practice  in  Pais- 
ley for  an  appointment  as  surgeon  in  the  60th  regi- 
ment (Royal  Americans),  British  army,  which  was 
stationed  in  Canada,  hoping,  should  he  still  desire  to 
make  his  permanent  home  in  the  colony  of  Kew 
York,  to  dispose  of  his  commission.  This  somewhat 
vague  and  not  well-digested  plan  was  the  first  lead- 
ing of  Providence  toward  the  establishment  of  Mrs. 
Graham  and  her  descendants  in  America. 

Within  a  twelvemonth  after  reaching  Canada  Dr. 
Graham  was  ordered  to  join  the  second  battalion  of 
his  regiment  in  Fort  Niagara,  a  strongly  fortified  post 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Niagara  Eiver,  just  where 
it  enters  Lake  Ontario,  founded  as  early  as  1786. 
The  fort  has  been  greatly  enlarged,  improved,  and 
strengthened  since  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
United  States,  presenting  a  grand  and  picturesque 


20  MEMOIRS  OF  MES.  BETHUNE. 

view  to  the  observer  from  the  water  or  the  opposite 
shore;  but  the  officers'  quarters  still  remain,  only 
slightly  altered  from  their  original  structure.  Tra- 
ditions of  the  60th  linger  about  the  ramparts,  and 
until  within  a  few  years  the  site  of  "  the  doctor's  gar- 
den," where  Dr.  Graham  amused  his  leisure  hours, 
was  pointed  out  in  a  peach  orchard,  afterward  plant- 
ed. Subsequently,  we  are  told,  the  land,  undermined 
by  the  storm-river  waves  of  "  wild  Ontario,"  slid  into 
the  lake.  The  reader  is  presented  with  two  views ; 
one  of  the  exterior,  from  the  Canada  shore,  for  which 
the  author  is  grateful  to  the  courtesy  of  the  gentle- 
manly artist,  Captain  John  Yan  Clerc,  of  Lewiston, 
Niagara  County,  N.  Y. ;  the  other,  a  photograph  of 
the  interior,  looking  west,  the  discovery  of  which  is 
due  to  the  kindness  of  Captain  George  Mead,  U.  S. 
Engineers.  In  the  rooms  on  the  ground  floor,  north 
of  the  entrance  of  the  officers'  quarters,  Joanna,  sec- 
ond daughter  of  Mrs.  Isabella  Graham,  subsequently 
the  wife  of  Divie  Bcthune,  was  born,  February  1st, 
1770. 


m-M 


,,3|.!::;l.. 


■'-.»:  iVi,ii, 


j,1«l|Bftfl.  ,  I 


SCENES  OF  CHILDHOOD.  25 


CHAPTER  11. 

SCENES  OF  CHILDHOOD. 

The  Mother's  religious  Exercises. — Converse  with  God. — Religious 
Studies. — Removal  to  Antigua. — Toilsome  Journey  through  the 
Wilderness  of  New  York.  —  Mrs.  Major  Brown. — Death  of  Dr. 
Graham. — Mrs.  Graham  goes  to  Scotland. — Establishes  a  School 
for  Young  Ladies. 

The  religious  exercises  of  Mrs.  Graham  at  this  pe- 
riod, both  before  and  after  the  birth  of  Joanna,  were 
peculiarly  deep  and  decisive.  The  wild  and  beauti- 
ful scenery  about  her,  combining  the  flowing  river 
and  ocean-like  lake  with  the  unbroken  virgin  forest, 
through  which  the  roar  of  the  great  cataract  could  be 
heard,  strongly  impressed  her  poetical  mind  with  a 
sense  of  the  Divine  majesty  and  love.  The  responsi- 
bilities of  the  young  wife  and  mother,  cast  upon  the 
care  of  Providence,  far  from  her  native  land,  her  faith- 
ful parents,  and  the  pious  friends  of  her  youth,  and, 
not  least,  the  difficulty  of  maintaining  her  Christian 
character  amid  such  novel  circumstances,  and  with- 
out her  accustomed  religious  privileges,  brought  her 
into  closer  communion  with  God,  making  her  strong- 
er from  consciousness  of  her  entire  dependence  upon 
her  sj^mpathizing,  ever-present  Savior.  It  is  true 
that,  in  her  humility,  she  condemned  herself  as  low 
in  her  religion ;  but,  from  her  conscientious  regard 

B 


26  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

for  the  Sabbath,  her  devotional  solitudes,  her  cheer- 
fulness in  the  discharge  of  her  many  domestic  cares 
amid  the  trying  hinderances  of  garrison  life,  her  anx- 
ious, affectionate  desires  for  her  husband's  sanctifica- 
tion,  her  thankful  study  with  him  of  Doddridge's  Kise 
and  Progress,  and  her  frequent  reminiscences  in  after 
life  of  her  days  at  Niagara,  all  tend  to  the  conviction 
that  He  who  leads  his  children  by  ways  that  they 
know  not  was  then  educating  her  for  a  higher  Chris- 
tian strength  and  decision  of  character ;  nor  can  we 
doubt  that  her  then  infant  child,  imconscious  in  the 
arms  of  her  young  Indian  nurse,  borne  among  the 
flowers  of  her  father's  garden,  or  sleeping  under  the 
blessing  of  her  mother's  guardian,  prayerful  love,  re- 
ceived a  baptism  from  the  Comforter,  invoked  by 
maternal  faith  and  trust.  He  who  sanctifies  from  the 
womb  can  give  a  blessing  in  the  womb,  and  sanctify 
a  mother's  travail  and  nursing  at  the  breast.  The 
mystery  of  the  new  birth  will  not -allow  us  to  under- 
stand the  ways  of  blessing  God  has  for  the  early  child- 
hood of  the  little  ones  whom  believing  parents  put 
into  the  Master's  arms^  craving  for  them  the  covenant 
blessing. 

In  1772,  the  hostihties  preceding  the  war  of  our  Kev- 
olution  becoming  more  serious,  and  it  being  thought 
by  the  British  government  to  remove  the  Eoyal  Amer- 
icans from  the  danger  of  sympathy  with  the  Whig 
spirit,  then  rapidly  spreading.  Dr.  Graham's  regiment 
was  ordered  to  the  island  of  Antigua.  The  doctor 
having  gone  to  New  York  on  an  unsuccessful  attempt 


SCENES  OF   CHILDHOOD.  27 

to  sell  his  commission,  that  he  might  carry  out  his 
plan  of  purchasing  a  home  in  Western  or  Middle  New 
York,  Mrs.  Graham  was  obliged  to  follow  him  to  New 
York,  with  her  children,  assisted  bj  two  Indian  cap- 
tive girls  which  she  had,  out  of  kindly  motives,  re- 
ceived from  their  savage  masters  into  her  family,  and 
who  returned  her  care  by  a  grateful  attachment  to 
her  and  her  little  ones.  The  route  which  the  ten- 
der family  pursued  was  by  bateau  to  Oswego,  thence 
over  a  portage  to  the  Mohawk,  somewhere  near  Oris- 
kany,  thence,  by  alternate  canoe  voyage  and  portage 
(over  which  the  children  were  carried  on  the  backs 
of  Indians),  to  Schenectady,  and  by  portage  again  to 
the  Hudson  at  Albany.  We  have  no  particular  rec- 
ord or  memoranda  of  this  journey,  but  how  different 
must  it  have  been  through  the  almost  unbroken  wil- 
derness, with  only  canoes  to  relieve  the  foot  travel, 
from  the  means  of  passage  now  through  the  very  gar- 
den of.  our  beautiful,  fertile,  and  prosperous  state. 
Surely  God,  who  watched  over  his  predestined  proph- 
et in  the  bulrushes  of  the  Nile,  guarded  and  guided 
that  little  band  through  the  wilderness  and  on  the 
stream  until  they  reached  New  York,  the  great  city 
which  was  afterward  to  be  so  eminently  blessed  by 
the  prayers  and  ministries  of  Isabella  Graham  and 
Joanna  Bethune.  While  waiting  at  the  sea-port  for 
the  sailing  of  the  transport,  Mrs.  Graham  and  her 
young  family  were  treated  with  most  hospitable  kind- 
ness by  many  Christian  friends,  to  whom  they  were 
introduced  by  Mrs.  Major  Brown  of  the  60th,  a  daugh- 


28  MEMOIRS  OF  MES.  BETHUNE. 

ter  of  Mr.  Yanbrugli  Livingston ;  and  made  tlie  val- 
uable acquaintance  of  the  Kev.  Dr.  John  Kodgers,  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  whose  instructions  many 
years  after,  on  Mrs.  Graham's  second  coming  to  New 
York  (1789-90),  Joanna  attributed  no  small  degree 
of  the  spiritual  benefit  she  needed  at  the  beginning 
of  her  Christian  profession. 

They  sailed  for  Antigua  ISTovember,  1772,  when  it 
pleased  God  sorely  to  chastise  Mrs.  Graham,  first,  by 
the  death  of  her  excellent  mother,  whose  letters  of 
affectionate  counsel  had  been  of  such  unspeakable 
value  to  her,  and,  a  few  months  afterward,  by  the 
death  of  Dr.  Graham,  who  died  November,  1773,  giv- 
ing the  strongest  testimony  that  the  blessing  which 
his  wife  had  so  earnestly  striven  and  prayed  for  had 
been  secured  through  his  own  apprehending  faith  on 
Jesus  Christ.  Those  who  have  read  the  memoirs  of 
Mrs.  Graham  will  remember  that  this  was  a  turning- 
point  of  her  Christian  character.  Hitherto  she  had 
leaned  much  on  her  pious  mother  in  matters  of  re- 
ligion, and  in  affairs  of  this  world  on  her  strong- 
hearted,  affectionate  husband.  Now,  motherless  and 
a  widow,  sad  and  in  poverty,  she  looked  upon  her 
little  fatherless  children,  and  cast  herself  and  them  on 
the  covenant  care  of  God  alone.  After  the  birth  of' 
a  son  she  returned  to  Scotland  (1775),  where  she  found 
her  father,  now  too  aged  for  the  trust  from  which  he 
had  derived  his  livelihood,  living  in  a  little  cottage  at 
Cartside,  near  Paisley.  She  lived  with  him  in  penu- 
ry for  about  two  years,  when,  seeking  for  a  better  sub- 


SCENES  OF  CHILDHOOD.  29 

sistence,  she  removed  to  Paisley,  and  taught  a  school 
for  small  children,  which,  with  her  pension  as  a  sur- 
geon's widow,  was  all  her  earthly  dependence,  until 
her  talents  as  a  teacher  and  her  beautiful  pious  con- 
sistency under  trial  led  her  constant  friend,  Mrs.  Ma- 
jor Brown  (also  then  in  Scotland),  to  unite  several 
other  influential  Christian  persons  to  propose  that  she 
should  open  a  boarding-school  of  a  high  order  in  Ed- 
inburgh (1779),  which  she  taught  with  great  success 
until  her  removal  to  New  York  in  1789.  The  reader 
will  observe  that  from  her  seventh  to  her  eleventh 
year  she  was  under  the  immediate  care  and  instruc- 
tion of  her  own  mother,  whose  faculty  of  teaching  the 
young  was  the  most  remarkable  of  all  her  distinguish- 
ed gifts  of  usefulness,  and  this,  too,  during  the  years 
when  her  piety  abounded  in  her  deep  poverty  and 
sanctified  sorrow.  Mrs.  Bethune  was  the  daughter 
of  a  schoolmistress,  and  her  earliest  conscious  years 
were  spent  in  her  mother's  school  for  young  children. 
The  later  developments  of  her  intelligent  and  suc- 
cessful zeal  for  the  religious  education  of  the  young 
prove  that  the  purpose  of  God  concerning  her  was 
then  in  preparation  for  its  fulfillment. 


80  MEMOIRS   OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

EARLY  EDUCATION  AND  ASSOCIATIONS. 

At  School. — Her  Teachers. — Distinguished  Ministers. — Erskine. — 
Davidson. — Witherspoon. — A  Playmate  of  Walter  Scott. — Lady 
Glenorchy ;  her  Biography. 

It  would  seem  from  one  of  her  records  that  about 
this  time,  probably  while  Mrs.  Graham  was  getting 
her  school  and  home  in  order,  Joanna  spent  nearly  a 
year  in  the  family  of  her  aunt  in  Glasgow,  when  in 
1780  she  was  taken  again  under  her  mother's  imme- 
diate care,  participating  in  the  advantages  of  the  ex- 
cellent school,  and  the  instructions  of  the  eminent 
masters  whom  Mrs.  Graham  called  to  her  aid.  Among 
these,  Mrs.  Bethune  retained  a  strong  sense  of  obliga- 
tion to  Mr.  Scott  (author  of  the  once  famous  book  of 
rhetorical  instruction  known  as  "Scott's  Lessons") 
and  Mr.  Butterworth,  the  first  writing-master  who 
prepared  engraved  copies  for  his  pupils,  and  illustra- 
tions of  the  hand  holding  the  pen.  To  the  latter 
Mrs.  Bethune  owed  the  accomplishment  of  a  peculiar- 
ly bold,  free,  and  distinct  hand-writing,  which  she  re- 
tained as  long  as  she  continued  to  use  her  pen.  To  Mr. 
Scott  she  was  indebted  for  a  knowledge  of  the  art  of 
speech  and  gesture,  which  made  herself  the  best  teach- 
er of  elocution  the  writer  of  these  pages  has  ever  met 
with.    Thus,  at  each  step  of  her  life,  and  as  her  mind 


EARLY  EDUCATION  AND  ASSOCIATIONS.  31 

was  ripening,  did  Providence  place  her  in  successive- 
ly higher  positions  to  cultivate  her  love  for  education, 
and  ability  to  advance  it  on  the  soundest  principles. 

But  her  heavenly  Father  made  yet  more  striking 
provision  for  her  religious  improvement.  Mrs.  Gra- 
ham's respectability  of  birth — much  more,  her  high  in- 
tellectual cultivation,  and,  more  than  all,  her  rich  en- 
dowments of  Divine  grace  shining  mildly  but  unmis- 
takably through  her  modest  virtues,  brought  around 
her  a  considerable  circle  of  friends,  some  of  them  con- 
spicuous for  rank  and  professional  distinction,  as  well 
as  unusual  piety.  Among  these  were  the  Eev.  Dr. 
Erskine  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Davidson,  who,  as  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Randal,*  of  Grlasgow,  had  been  one  of  her  earliest 
friends  while  at  Paisley,  whose  ministry  she  attended 
while  in  Edinburgh ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Witherspoon,  dur- 
ing his  visit  to  Edinburgh  (1785),  from  whose  con- 
versation respecting  America  as  a  land  in  which  the 
Church  of  Grod  was  eminently  to  flourish,  Mrs.  Gra- 
ham derived  her  providential  impulses  to  come  with 
her  children  to  the  United  States ;  and  other  revered 
clergymen.  One  of  her  near  neighbors  and  cherish- 
ed intimate  friends  was  Mrs.  Walter  Scott  (the  moth- 
er of  the  poet),  of  whose  excellent  spirit  and  affec- 
tionate kindness  Mrs.  Bethune  often  spoke  warmly  to 
her  children. 

It  will  be  interesting  here  to  give  some  of  Mrs. 
Bethune's  reminiscences  of  young  Walter  at  this  time. 

*  The  author  believes  that  this  change  of  name  was  a  condition 
of  his  inheriting  a  fortune,  but  he  has  no  account  of  it. 


32  MEMOIRS  OF  MES.  BETHUNE. 

Waltiej  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  Mrs.  Bethune  de- 
scribed as  an  amiable,  kindly  lad,  who,  from  his  lame- 
ness, was  not  allowed  to  play  with  lads  of  his  age, 
lest  he  should  suffer  from  their  rough  sports,  and 
therefore  found  his  playmates  among  the  girls,  with 
whom  he  was  a  special  favorite.  Their  playground 
was  an  inclosed  space  or  square,  to  which  the  fam- 
ilies of  the  houses  round  resorted  (Mrs.  Scott  and 
Mrs.  Grraham  being  of  the  number) ;  and  here,  upon 
the  grass,  it  was  his  special  delight  to  get  troops  of 
the  young  ladies  to  act  little  dramas  of  Border  his- 
tory, the  main  feature  of  which  was  a  division  into 
two  opposing  parties  (Englishmen  and  Scots),  who 
made  raids  into  each  other's  territory  across  the  Bor- 
der line,  and  carried  off,  if  successful,  bonnets,  shawls, 
and  other  articles  of  clothing  deposited  for  the  pur- 
pose, as  booty.  So  early  did  his  ruling  passion  show 
itself. 

At  another  time  the  young  Joanna,  with  some  oth- 
er young  companions,  were  spending  the  afternoon 
at  Mrs.  Scott's,  when  there  came  up  a  tremendous 
thunder-storm,  in  Edinburgh  of  comparatively  rare 
occurrence,  which  so  alarmed  the  little  girls  that  they 
ran  to  throw  themselves  on  the  feather-beds  for  safe- 
ty from  the  electric  fluid.  The  boy  Waltie,  being  of 
course  excluded,  shut  himself  up  in  his  room,  and  on 
the  reassembling  at  the  tea-table  he  produced  what 
appeared  to  his  partial  auditors  some  extraordinariljr 
fine  verses  on  the  storm.  Sir  Walter,  in  his  autobi- 
ography, alludes  to  these  verses  as  among  his  earli- 


EARLY  EDUCATION  AND  ASSOCIATIONS.  83 

est  attempts  at  verse,  in  which  he  says  he  stole  all 
the  ideas  and  a  good  share  of  the  rhymes  from  an  old 
magazine.  The  writer  had  often  heard  the  story 
from  his  mother  before  the  autobiography  reached 
this  country.  Sir  Walter  did  not  wholly  forget  his 
early  playmate,  but  in  more  than  one  case  intro- 
duced friends  coming  to  New  York  to  Mrs.  Bethune, 
and  there  is  now  in  possession  of  the  writer  a  copy, 
quarto,  of  the  first  edition  of  the  "Lay  of  the  last 
Minstrel,"  which  was  (as  his  parents  told  him)  order- 
ed to  be  sent  out  by  the  author.  Unfortunately,  the 
poet's  autograph  is  not  on  it  as  a  presentation  copy ; 
nor  can  any  one  of  the  several  letters  be  found,  ow- 
ing to  an  unfortunate  scattering  of  a  portion  of  Mrs. 
Bethune's  papers,  which  has  been  the  occasion  of 
many  similar  losses.  Mrs.  Bethune  was  so  confident 
of  Sir  "Walter's  kindly  recollection  of  her,  that  she 
was  anxious  her  son  should  bear  a  letter  of  introduc- 
tion to  him  from  her;  but  his  visit  to  Abbotsford 
could  not  be  paid  until  after  the  Wizard  of  the 
North  had  ceased  to  breathe  his  mighty  spells  over 
an  admiring  world.  It  may  be  added  that  in  Mrs. 
Bethune's  family  the  full  conviction  that  none  other 
than  her  early  playmate  in  "Englishmen  and  Scots" 
could  be  the  author  of  "  Waverley,"  antedated  many 
years  his  own  avowal  of  the  anonymous  splendor  of 
those  unequaled  romances,  Mrs.  Bethune  having  de- 
tected, as  she  thought,  some  unmistakable  evidences 
of  "  Waltie  Scott's  hand." 

But  the  friend  of  Mrs.  Graham,  most  beloved  and 
B2 


34  MEMOIRS  OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

trusted  in,  not  for  her  high,  noble  birth,  but  great 
Christian  excellence,  and  who  most  deserves  mention 
in  this  Memoir,  because  of  her  influence  over  the 
heart  and  life  of  the  young  Joanna,  was  the  Eight 
Honorable  Wilielma,  wife  of  Lord  Viscount  Glenor- 
chj,  only  son  of  the  third  earl  of  Breadalbane,  a  no- 
bleman of  immense  wealth  and  equal  distinction. 
This  lady  is  named  here  with  her  aristocratic  titles 
because  she  was  one  of  the  noblest  among  the  few 
noble  whom  the  Lord  of  all  honor  has  called  to  glo- 
rious rank  among  the  highest  in  the  kingdom  of 
God.  This  lady,  adorned  by  every  accomplishment 
of  mind  and  person,  admired,  and  beloved,  and  court- 
ed by  the  highest  circles  in  which  she  moved,  by 
right  of  birth,  through  her  intimacy  with  the  family 
of  Sir  Eowland  Hill,  father  of  the  eminent  preacher 
of  that' name,  and,  at  that  time  (1764),  resident  with 
his  family,  but  especially  Miss  Hill,  his  eldest  sister, 
became,  at  the  age  of  24,  so  decidedly  an  evangelical 
Christian  that  she  broke  through  all  the  temptations 
of  the  world  surrounding  her,  and  ever  afterward  de- 
voted herself  to  the  unwearied  activities  and  self-de- 
nial of  Christ's  true  follower.  The  Life,  with  Letters 
and  Devotional  Papers,  of  Lady  Glenorchy,  was  ed- 
ited by  the  Kev.  T.  S.  Jones,  minister  of  her  chapel, 
Edinburgh  ;  was  published,  Edinburgh,  for  William 
Whyte  &  Co.,  there,  and  Longman,  Hurst,  Rees,  Orme, 
&  Brown,  London,  in  1822,  8vo,  p.  520,  and,  though 
not  very  skillfully  executed,  constitutes  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  and  edifying  Christian  biographies 


EARLY  EDUCATION  AND  ASSOCIATIONS.  85 

ever  given  to  tlie  world.  It  is,  unhappilj,  little 
known  in  this  country,  never  having  been  reprinted 
here,  and  it  is  almost  lost  to  the  annals  of  the  Church 
on  earth,  so  that  the  writer  is  compelled  to  exert  no 
little  degree  of  self-denial  in  making  his  notice  of  his 
brother's  early  patron  and  exemplar  sufficiently  brief 
for  the  size  of  this  volume.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
Lady  Glenorchy  was  one  of  Whitfield's  school  of  re- 
ligious doctrine,  while  her  intimate  and  best-loved 
friend  Darcy,  Lady  Maxwell,  followed  the  principles 
of  Wesley,*  both  being  divinely  accredited  as  emi- 
nent examples  of  the  power  which  genuine  Christian 
faith  exerts  over  the  hearts  of  Christ's  disciples,  de- 
spite of  technical  differences  of  minor  doctrine,  in  en- 
abling them  to  overcome  the  world,  to  purify  their 
hearts,  and  work  by  love.  Some  notice,  necessarily 
brief,  of  Lady  Glenorchy 's  character  and  good  works, 
may  be  found  in  the  Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Graham,  revised 
and  edited  for  the  American  Tract  Society  by  Mrs. 
Bethune,  and  published  from  her  manuscript,  and  un- 
"der  her  close  personal  supervision,  in  1842 ;  where, 
also,  will  be  found,  p.  64-67,  an  admirable  letter  from 
Lady  Glenorchy,  showing  at  once  her  deeply  spiritu- 
al character,  and  the  faithfulness  of  her  tender  friend- 
ship for  Mrs.  Graham.  This  she  also  manifested  in 
her  kindness  to  the  subject  of  this  Memoir,  in  receiv- 
ing her  at  one  time  into  her  own  family,  and  after- 

*  Life  of  Darcy,  Lady  Maxwell,  of  Pollock,  etc.,  etc.  By  Rev. 
John  Lancaster.  New  York  :  Bangs  &  Mason,  for  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  2  vols.  12mo,  1822. 


B6  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

ward  sending  her,  liberally  furnished  with  money  for 
her  personal  expenses  and  practical  exercise  of  char- 
ity, to  a  French  school  at  Eotterdam,  in  Holland, 
that  she  might  acquire  the  language,  and  be  fitted 
for  greater  assistance  to  her  mother  in  the  school. 
Lady  Glenorchy  also  requested  that  Mrs.  Graham 
might  be  sent  for  to  be  near  her  in  her  last  moments, 
and  Mrs.  Graham  had  the  mournful  satisfaction  of 
closing  her  eyes,  receiving,  as  a  proof  of  her  friend's 
love,  a  legacy  of  £200,  which  was  of  great  benefit  in 
her  then  narrow  circumstances. 

Again  the  reader  is  asked  to  note  the  peculiar 
leading  of  a  gracious  Providence  in  training  His 
young  handmaiden  for  those  walks  of  usefulness 
which,  in  riper  years,  she  pursued  so  successfully 
and  devotedly. 


AN   UNFINISHED  SKETCH  BY  HERSELF.  37 


CHAPTER  lY. 

AN   UNFINISHED  SKETCH  BY  HERSELF. 

Self-examination. — A  Retrospect. — Decline  of  Religion. — Orphan- 
age.— Restraints  of  Childhood. — A  Mother's  Care. — An  Aunt's 
Praises. — A  Minister's  Influence. — Death  of  a  Grandfather. — 
Lady  Glenorchy  and  her  Household. — Their  Habits  and  Example. 
— Goes  to  a  French  School  in  Rotterdam. — Its  effect  upon  her  re- 
ligious Character. 

Her  religious  history  up  to  tliis  period  will  be  best 
given  in  the  words  of  an  unfinished  paper  written  by 
herself  immediately  after  her  mother's  death. 

"New  York,  Thursday,  August  18,  1814.       J 

"A  day  set  apart  by  the  General  Assembly  for  >- 

humiliation  and  prayer.  ) 

*'  Heard  Mr.  Bogue  preach  from  Zephaniah,  i.,  12, 
latter  clause  of  the  verse :  *  And  punish  the  men  that 
are  settled  on  their  lees ;  that  say  in  their  heart,  The 
Lord  will  not  do  good,  neither  will  he  do  evil.'  He 
mentioned  a  number  of  characters  who  use  such  lan- 
guage, and  what  he  said  was  very  good,  but  I  thought 
that  he  came  short  in  not  speaking  more  particularly 
to  Christians.  Those  who  seem  to  walk  before  God 
with  their  whole  heart,  whose  lives  and  conversation 
seem  void  of  offense,  have  most  need  to  search  their 
hearts.  "We  are  apt  to  be  settled  upon  our  lees.  We 
live  in  such  a  day  of  Gospel  light  that  it  is  rather  re- 


38  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

spectable  than  otherwise  to  be  Christians.  There  are, 
indeed,  those  who  spend  their  days  in  all  manner  of 
riot  and  dissipation ;  but  there  are  a  good  number  of 
real  believers,  of  outwardly  decent  character,  that  are 
under  no  temptation  to  go  out  into  the  world  which 
lieth  in  wickedness,  having  so  many  to  keep  us  in 
countenance.  For  my  part,  with  the  deepest  humili- 
ation and  contrition,  I  would  be  this  day  a  witness 
against  myself.  When  I  look  back  on  my  past  life, 
and  all  the  way  by  which  the  Lord  my  God  has  led 
me,  I  am  ashamed  and  confounded ;  and  were  it  not 
that  He  hath  found  out  a  way  by  which  He  can  be 
just,  yet  the  justifier  of  him  that  belie veth,  I  could 
not  dare  to  approach  Him,  but  would  be  compelled 
to  sit  down  in  despair,  and  never  more  open  my 
mouth  before  Him. 

''I  am  this  day,  in  a  particular  manner,  called  to 
mourn  and  to  rejoice.  I  am  now  an  orphan.  '  My 
father  and  my  mother  have  forsaken  rne.'  My  father 
I  never  knew.  It  pleased  God  to  take  him  away  be- 
fore I  could  be  sensible  of  the  loss ;  but  for  the  space 
of  forty  years  I  have  been  blessed  with  the  most  ex- 
emplary of  mothers.  Although  she  deeply  bewailed 
her  unfaithfulness  to  her  children,  I  can  testify  to  her 
faithfulness  to  me  in  the  best  things.  The  nature  of 
her  business  exposed  her  to  many  temptations  from 
which  I  am  freed ;  but  the  Sabbath  was  always  a  sign 
between  her  and  her  God.  I  have  always  been  kept 
from  openly  breaking  the  Sabbath. 

"  I  mean  not  to  record  here  a  history  of  her  life,  or 


AN   UNFINISHED  SKETCH  BY   HERSELF.  89 

even  of  her  last  illness,  but  strictly  to  call  myself  to 
account  for  my  conduct  from  my  youth  until  now; 
to  enumerate  the  many  advantages  I  have  enjoyed, 
and  then  compare  my  subsequent  conduct. 

"  As  long  as  I  can  remember,  I  daily  received  re- 
ligious instructions  from  my  mother.  She  taught  me 
to  read,  and  daily  made  me  learn  the  Shorter  Cate- 
chism and  portions  of  Scripture.  I  recollect,  as  early 
as  when  eight  or  nine  years  old,  having  something 
like  religious  exercise.  I  yielded  to  my  sisters  and 
others  from  a  principle  of  religion,  and  I  was  so  still 
and  quiet  that  they  used  to  call  me  '  the  little  pigeon.' 
But  the  corruption  in  me  had  not  been  called  into  ex- 
ercise. 

"I  staid  eleven  months  with  my  aunt  in  Glasgow. 
She  was  very  partial  to  me,  praising  me  to  every 
body,  and  I  soon  began  to  think  myself  a  nonsuch. 
This  taught  me  a  lesson  which  I  desire  ever  to  re- 
member— not  to  seek  the  praise  of  men,  and  not  to 
praise  my  children  before  their  faces. 

''In  1780  we  removed  [to  Edinburgh],  and  for  sev- 
eral years  I  recollect  nothing  but  childish  vanity  and 
folly.  Dr.  Davidson,  formerly  Mr.  Eandal,  conceived 
a  great  regard  for  me,  and  was  pleased  to  fix  upon 
me  as  a  companion  for  his  eldest  daughter,  who  was 
extremely  volatile.  I  went,  for  a  length  of  time,  to 
his  house  every  evening,  to  study  my  lessons  with 
Sally,  was  present  at  their  family  worship,  and  sat  in 
his  pew  on  the  Sabbath.  Many,  very  many  are  the 
instructions  I  received  from  that  man  of  God,  and 


40  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

accordingly  I  had  something  like  exercise.  I  re- 
member my  ever  making  conscience  of  reading  God's 
"Word,  and  singing  His  praises,  and  j)raying  to  Him 
every  day  in  private. 

''  In  February,  1783,  my  grandfather  died,  which 
made  a  considerable  impression  on  my  mind.  I 
prayed  and  cried  to  the  Lord  only  to  give  me  the 
portion  of  His  people,  and  I  would  ask  no  other.  I 
prayed  that  He  would  hedge  me  in,  and  keep  me  in 
a  right  way ;  that,  if  I  ever  forsook  Him,  He  would 
chastise  me,  only  never  take  His  loving -kindness 
from  me.  Often,  often  have  I  prayed  in  this  manner, 
when  my  conduct  was.  in  direct  opposition  to  my 
prayers ;  but  blessed  be  my  God  who  has  answered 
my  prayers.  He  has  repeatedly  chastised  me,  visit- 
ing my  transgressions  with  a  rod,  and  my  iniquity 
with  stripes;  nevertheless,  His  loving-kindness  has 
He  not  utterly  taken  from  me,  nor  suffered  His  faith- 
fulness to  fail. 

"About  the  month  of  November,  1783, 1  went  to 
Barnton  [a  seat  of  her  ladyship's],  four  miles  from 
Edinburgh,  to  live  in  the  family  of  my  much  revered 
patroness  and  exemplary  friend.  Lady  Glenorchy, 
where  I  remained  until  the  summer  following.  Oh, 
what  have  I  not  to  answer  for  what  I  saw  in  that  fam- 
ily. It  was,  indeed,  a  little  heaven  u]Don  earth.  Nev- 
er, before  or  since,  have  I  seen  such  exemplary  con- 
duct. The  family  consisted  of  Lady  Glenorchy  [now 
thirteen  years  a  widow],  Lady  Harriet  [or  Henrietta], 
Hope  [eldest  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Hopetoun,  who 


AN   UNFINISHED   SKETCH  BY  HEKSELF.  41 

had  resided  with  Lady  Glenorchy  since  the  earl,  her 
father's  death,  1781,  adding,  as  Lady  Glenorchy's  bi- 
ographer says,  '  much  to  the  comfort  of  her  life,' 
from  her  clear,  vigorous,  and  evangelical  spirit],  Miss 
M 'Do  wall,  the  chaplain  [the  Eev.Dr.  T.S.Jones],  and 
myself  Lady  Glenorchy  was  in  very  ill  health  dur- 
ing the  whole  of  the  winter,  never  getting  out  to 
church  or  any  other  place  except  once  on  the  Sab- 
bath, and  sometimes  not  that ;  yet  I  never  remember 
seeing  a  frown  on  her  countenance  or  hearing  her  ut- 
ter a  murmuring  word.  She  was  even  then  deprived 
of  her  favorite  employment,  visiting  and  relieving  the 
poor.  But  they  did  not  suffer  on  that  account.  She 
had  many  almoners.  My  mother  was  often  honored 
with  that  office.*  Li  1783,  when  there  was  a  great 
scarcity,  she  furnished  her  friends  with  tickets,  re- 
ceivable at  different  shops,  and  commanding  necessa- 
ries of  life  for  those  who  were  in  want.  She  had  a 
large  room,  which  she  called  her  wardrobe,  hung 
round  with  coarse  but  comfortable  garments,  which 
had  previously  furnished  work  to  many  persons  in 
the  different  stages  of  spinning,  weaving,  and  making 
up.  She  likewise  kept  all  kinds  of  simple  medicines 
by  her  for  the  use  of  the  sick.  Her  mansion  was  el- 
egant, and  her  grounds  tastefully  laid  out;f  and,  like 
the  great,  she  had  two  porters'  lodges  at  the  gate. 

*  So,  also,  as  she  often  told  us,  was  j'oung  Joanna  herself,  whom 
Lady  Glenorchy  used,  on  such  occasions,  to  call  her  little  almoner. 
It  was  part  of  the  education  she  bestowed  on  lier  young  proteg€. 

t  Barnton  was  sold  for  £28,000. 


42  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

Of  these  she  made  schoolrooms,  two  of  her  pious  do- 
mestics having  charge  of  them.  In  one,  the  poor  chil- 
dren were  taught  to  read,  and  received  religious  in- 
structions ;  in  the  other,  the  females  were  taught  to 
sew,  spin,  and  knit.  I  was  witness  to  her  having 
potatoes  planted  for  the  poor  in  her  very  pleasure- 
grounds.  But  I  can  not  pretend  to  enumerate  the 
many  good  deeds  of  that  excellent  lady,  and  only, 
for  my  own  improvement,  set  down  something  of 
what  my  eyes  saw  and  my  ears  heard.  During  the 
week  we  worked  while  one  read,  generally  myself. 
Our  reading  was  sacred  biography,  or  the  experiences 
of  pious  people.  On  the  Sabbath,  our  reading  was 
of  a  deeper  character.  Lady  Glenorchy  kept  a  little 
Bible  in  the  pocket  of  the  carriage,  and,  while  driv- 
ing to  church  [usually  four  miles,  to  her  ladyship's 
chapel,  which  she  had  built,  and  supported,  in  Edin- 
burgh], she  would  give  us  a  text  to  meditate  upon. 
Her  whole  time,  talents,  and  fortune  were  devoted  to 
God,  and  she  had  no  intercourse  with  the  world  ex- 
cept it  was  to  promote  some  good  work.* 

*  Lady  Glcnorchy's  biographer,  speaking  of  her  at  this  period, 
says,  "In  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  September,  1783,  she,  with 
her  friend  Henrietta  Hope,  returned  to  Barnton,  where  she  remained 
during  the  following  autumn  and  winter.  'The  liberal,' says  the 
prophet,  '  deviseth  liberal  things ;'  much  had  Lady  Glenorchy  done, 
and  much  had  she  expended  in  promoting  the  cause  of  benevolence 
and  the  interests  of  piety ;  yet,  after  all,  she  was  not  satisfied ;  she 
never  thought  that  she  had  done  enough  wliile  there  was  a  possibility 
of  doing  any  thing  more.  Little  or  nothing  did  she  expend  on  her- 
self more  than  was  absolutely  necessary ;  yet  she  contracted  even 


AN   UNFINISHED   SKETCH  BY  HERSELF.  43 

"I  was  often  mucli  exercised  while  staying  at  Barn- 
ton,  but  I  as  yet  only  experienced  a  wish  and  desire 

that  little  in  order  to  be  able  to  do  more  good.  Her  economy  be- 
came great,  but  it  was  the  economy  of  piety  and  benevolence."  She 
herself  writes  to  her  intimate  friend,  Mrs.  Baillie  Walker  (also  an 
intimate  friend  and  counselor  of  Mrs.  Graham),  a  lady  whose  strong 
mind,  and  deeply  religious  character  had  been  of  special  benefit  to 
her  (Lady  Glenorchy),  as  it  was  to  all  brought  within  the  sphere  of 
her  influence,  August,  1783,  from  Moffat,  where  she  had  accom- 
panied Lady  Harriet,  when  failing  health  required  the  drinking  of 
goat's  whey,  "The  Lord  has  been  pleased  to  visit  me  by  sickness 
once  more,  after  my  having  attained  to  a  measure  of  health  I  had 
not  known  for  several  years.  May  I  not  say,  with  Job,  '  Shall  I  re- 
ceive good  at  the  hand  of  God,  and  shall  I  not  receive  evil  also?' 
He  gave  me  health  for  a  season,  and  now  He  has  taken  it  away ; 
blessed  be  His  name,  for  He  doth  all  things  wise.  Yes,  'I  am  fully 
persuaded  that  this  very  illness  is  one  of  the  'all  things'  that  are 
working  together  for  my  good,  and  my  heart  freely  acquiesces  in  the 
dispensation."  Again,  in  her  Diary,  January  1,  1783,  she  records, 
"The  Lord  has  been  pleased,  most  unexpectedly  to  me,  to  lengthen 
out  my  life  to  see  the  beginning  of  a  new  year.  .  .  .  He  crowns  me 
with  every  blessing  of  a  temporal  nature.  I  also  enjoy  the  means 
of  grace  abundantly  ;  but,  alas !  how  unworthy  do  I  feel  myself  to 
be  of  such  favors.  How  ungrateful,  careless,  negligent,  and  forgetful 
of  my  best  friend  and  benefactor.  I  stand  astonished  at  the  good- 
ness of  God,  and  at  my  own  total  unworthiness.  Oh  that  I  had  a 
heart  and  tongue  to  praise  Him,  and  power  to  speed  forth  to  others 
the  grace  of  God  by  a  holy  and  useful  walk  and  conversation !  May 
I  this  year  increase  in  faith,  love,  and  power  in  my  soul,  that  God 
may  be  glorified  in  me  and  by  me.  Let  my  soul  live,  and  it  shall 
praise  Thee!  Amen,  and  Amen!"  Again,  January  26th,  "For 
some  days  past  I  have  had  more  liberty  in  prayer,  and  more  com- 
fort in  secret  duties  than  usual,  particularly  in  the  morning ;  and 
sometimes  in  the  night,  when  I  awake,  I  have  been  constrained  to 
praise  Him  for  all  His  mercies.  I  have  had  several  instances  of  His, 
answering  my  prayei's  for  spiritual  blessings,  and  find  my  mind  led 


44  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETnUNE. 

to  become  a  follower  of  Jesus,  and  never  pretended 
to  think  that  I  had  already  attained  to  a  right  knowl- 
edge of  Him.  The  doctrine  of  election  puzzled  me ; 
and,  besides,  by  frequently  hearing  the  Methodists,  I 
expected  to  experience  some  sudden  change,  nay, 
even  that  all  my  evil  inclinations  would  be  at  once 
done  away,  and  that  ever  after  I  should  feel  entirely 
free  from  sin. 

"  Lady  Glenorchy,  out  of  her  great  benevolence, 
and  warm  friendship  for  my  mother,  in  order  to  fit 
me  to  assist  her  in  the  school,  sent  me,  at  her  own 
expense,  to  a  French  school  in  Eotterdam ;  and,  that 
I  might  have  opportunity  for  my  private  devotions, 
paid  for  a  room  private  to  myself,  a  privilege  of  which 
I  was  defrauded.  She  also  gave  me  ten  guineas  for 
pocket-money,  enjoining  it  upon  me  never  to  see  dis- 
tress without  relieving  it.  I  parted  from  this  dear  lady 
in  1784,  and  never  saw  her  again.  When  I  arrived 
in  Eotterdam,  I  found  myself  without  a  pious  friend. 

out  to  trust  and  look  for  yet  greater  blessings  than  any  I  have  hith- 
erto experienced.  I  want  to  be  more  habitually  spiritually- minded, 
and  to  live  under  a  constant  sense  of  His  presence  ;  to  act,  as  in  His 
sight,  with  a  single  eye  to  His  glory.  My  soul  longs  for  the  mind 
which  was  in  Christ.  O  Lord,  grant  me  all  thou  art  willing  to  be- 
stow on  me,  and  then  take  me  to  thyself,  that  I  may  behold  thy 
glory  without  a  veil."  Such  was  the  heavenly  and  heaven-desiring 
frame  of  Lady  Glenorchy's  mind  during  the  time  when  young  Jo- 
anna Graham,  then  just  passing  out  of  her  girlhood,  had  the  ines- 
timable privilege  of  living  under  her  affectionate  care,  and  of  being 
the  subject  of  her  prayers.  The  subsequent  career  of  Mrs.  Bethune 
will  develop  the  degree  in  which  her  heart,  judgment,  and  method  of 
pious  action  were  affected  by  what  she  saw  and  heard  at  Barnton. 


AN   UNFINISHED  SKETCH  BY  HERSELF.  46 

On  the  Sabbath  the  girls  amused  themselves  more 
than  on  week-days,  and  although  I  understood  that 
there  were  many  pious  people  in  the  place,  it  was  not 
my  lot  to  meet  them.  I  was  dreadfully  afraid,  and 
cried  earnestly  to'  the  Lord  to  preserve  me  from 
breaking  the  Sabbath  as  I  saw  others  do.  Indeed,  I 
never  in  my  whole  life  prayed  more  earnestly  than 
I  did  when  first  in  Rotterdam ;  but,  by  degrees,  I  be- 
came accustomed  to  the  state  of  things  around  me. 
The  society  of  young  people,  and  the  example  of 
careless  ministers"  [assistants  in  the  school,  and  per- 
haps others,  who  exhibited  the  deplorably  lax  no- 
tions on  the  Sabbath  prevalent  among  churches  on 
the  Continent],  ''soon  wore  off  my  serious  impres- 
sions; and  although  I  do  not  recollect  deliberate 
joining  in  any  game  or  amusement  on  the  Sabbath, 
yet  idle  conversation  and  laughing  occupied  too  great 
a  part  of  the  holy  day.  By  the  time  I  was  ready  to 
return  home,  my  affections  were  much  turned  from 
serious  things,  and  I  do  not  recollect  much  exercise 
for  some  years,  but  much,  much  folly  of  heart  and 
life* 

"  The  year  1786  I  must  now  recollect  with  great 

*  Truth  requires  the  biographer  to  say  that,  notwithstanding  the 
many  disadvantages  under  which  she  hibored  at  this  worldly-minded 
school,  Mrs.  Bethune  often  spoke  with  pleasant  reminiscence  of  some 
parts  of  the  French  service  in  the  church  the  school  attended,  and 
also  of  the  weekly  visits  of  a  little  man  in  half  clerical  costume,  the 
catechist  (catechiseermeester),  an  officer  in  the  Reformed  Churches 
who,  according  to  their  praiseworthy  custom,  came  to  hear  the  pu- 
pils say  their  Catechism,  etc. 


46  MEMOIES  OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

sorrow ;  for  not  only  was  I  cold  and  indifferent  as  to 
religion,  but  I  gave  np  praying  altogether.  Indeed, 
I  was  afraid  to  pray ;  but  the  Lord  had  purposes  of 
mercy  concerning  me."     Here  the  narrative  ends. 

Nothing  of  interest  concerning  Joanna's  life  is  re- 
corded from  this  time  until  July,  1789.  It  is  prob- 
able that  she  assisted  to  some  degree  in  teaching  her 
mother's  pupils,  but  not  so  as  to  hinder  her  own  thor- 
ough education. 


MKS.  ISABELLA  GKAHAM'S  COUNSELS.  47 


CHAPTER  y. 

MRS.  ISABELLA  GRAHAM's   COUNSELS. 

Letter  to  a  Daughter  at  School. — Love  of  Enjoyment. — Discontent. 
— Great  Opportunities. — Pleasures  of  Home. — Mother's  Cares. — 
Advantages  of  Education. — Gratitude. 

The  following  is  one  of  several  letters  of  Mrs. 
Graham  to  her  daughter,  and  will  not  be  without 
interest.  It  would  seem  that  Joanna  was,  for  some 
good  reason,  to  be  transferred  from  the  school  which 
she  had  entered  at  first,  and  had  expressed  some  im- 
patience: 

"Edinburgh,  May  3, 1785. 

''To  Miss  Jacky*  Graham,  at  Madame  Marc's 
"  Boarding-school,  Rotterdam : 
"*'  My  dear  Girl, — Before  I  begin  this  letter,  I  must 
put  you  in  remembrance  of  what  I  have  often  told 
you,  that  it  is  no  strange  thing  for  either  youth  or 
age  to  need  friendly  caution,  or  even  reproof;  and 
that  if  ever  you  find  yourself  for  any  length  of  time 
without  it,  it  is  not  because  you  do  not  need  it,  but 
because  you  have,  no  friend  near,  or  none  that  is 
faithful,  or  none  with  penetration,  or  none  who  strict- 
ly observes  your  actions ;  for  inspired  wisdom  it- 
self has  said,  that  folly  is  bound  up  in  the  heart  of 
youth,  and  needs  the  rod  of  correction  to  drive  it 

*  The  pet  name  for  Joanna. 


48  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

out.  I  have  never,  as  you  know,  dealt  much  in  cor- 
rection, but  have  ever  labored  to  rectify  the  judg- 
ment, the  heart,  and  the  passions.  Now,  my  love,  I 
have  no  crime  to  charge  you  with,  nor  even  any  real 
fault ;  I  only  think  that  you  are  too  much  under  the 
influence  of  self-will — no,  I  can  not  say  that  either ; 
1  rather  say,  the  love  of  j^reseni  enjoyment.  You  would, 
in  every  letter,  leave  all  the  advantages  you  have  for 
improving  yourself,  and  return,  more  than  satisfied, 
to  3'Our  mother's  house.  You  would  forego  all  the 
advantages  of  the  future  for  a  year's  present  enjoy- 
ment. I  should  be  vexed  and  grieved  if  any  of  my 
children  could  be  so  happy  absent  from  me  as  with 
me.  I  even  wish  them  to  prefer  home  to  every  other 
situation. 

"That  you  are  more  reconciled  to  your  present 
situation  is  because  you  have  found  another  home — 
other  kind  friends,  who  have  become  objects  of  your 
esteem  and  affection.  This,  too,  is  good.  You  owe 
them,  and  every  other  blessing,  to  the  great  Fountain 
of  love,  who  has  the  hearts  of  all  in  His  hand,  and 
opens  or  shuts  them  at  his  pleasure.  You  owe  to 
them  gratitude — you  owe  them  love.  You  may 
without  offense,  nay,  it  is  ever  your  duty,  to  enjoy 
them  while  with  them.  But,  my  dear  Jacky,  as  it 
was  your  duty  to  leave  your  mother's  house,  and  go 
to  Holland  a  stranger  and  unacquainted,  so  it  is  your 
duty  to  leave  your  second  home,  and  become  more  a 
stranger  and  unknown ;  and  that  with  your  will 
heartily,  though  it  should  be  with  painful  feelings. 


MRS.  ISABELLA  GRAHAM'S  COUNSELS.  49 

God  is  every  where,  and  can  ever  raise  up  friends 
for  you  wherever  He,  in  His  providence,  calls  you. 
Does  my  Jacky  reflect  when  she  says,  'I  was  born 
to  suffer ;  it  is  hard  to  be  tossed  about  in  this  man- 
ner?' Does  she  not,  at  such  times,  forget  that  all 
this  is  for  her  own  improvement,  and  that  God  has, 
in  a  very  remarkable  manner,  provided  the  means 
of  such  improvement,  for  your  mother  had  it  not? 
What  would  poor  Juliet ,  and  thousands  of  oth- 
ers, give  for  your  opportunities?  Yes,  your  own 
sister  Jess  would  at  present  esteem  it  a  happi- 
ness, though,  I  make  no  doubt,  she  would  feel  as 
you  feel,  and  say  as  you  say,  or,  perhaps,  be  even 
more  impatient,  if  actually  in  the  same  circum- 
stances. Still,  in  the  view  of  sober  reason,  your  ad- 
vantages are  greater  than  theirs  who  are  at  home, 
and  your  situation  comfortable  at  the  same  time. 
Turn  back  your  views  to  your  mother's  situation: 
left  a  widow,  with  four  of  you,  in  a  distant  country, 
with  scarcely  so  much  in  hand  as  to  carry  her  and 
her  orphans  to  her  native  land.  Next,  view  our  cot- 
tage [at  Cartside] — no  doubt  it  was  the  cottage  of 
innocence,  simplicity,  .and  happiness,  though  of  pov- 
erty— and  even  from  that  we  were  shut  out  with 
but  a  poor  £16  a  year  to  depend  upon,  and  the  eld- 
est of  my  children  scarcely  eight  years  of  age.  What 
could  be  our  prospects  at  that  time  ?  Either  sitting 
from  six  in  the  morning  till  ten  at  night  sprigging 
muslin,  or  some  such  work,  or  going  out  to  common 
service?     Many  late,  many  anxious   nights   your 

0 


50  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

motlier  had  at  that  time;  and  she  who  had  ever 
lived  a  hfe  of  ease  and  plenty  in  the  lap  of  indul- 
gence, loving  and  beloved — her  company  courted — 
her  conduct  copied — the  seeming  favorite  of  all  who 
knew  her — ^yet  brought  so  low  as  to  be  obliged  to 
part  with  her  last  servant,  and  do  her  own  house- 
work; and,  what  was  worse,  be  neglected  by  those 
who  were  formerly  my  intimates,  some  of  whom  had 
esteemed  my  friendship  an  honor.  What  were  my 
prospects  then  ?  Yet,  Jac,  think  what  the  Lord  has 
done  for  us  since  that  time,  and  you  in  particular. 
Eelations,  afraid  of  being  entangled  in  our  difficulties, 
kept  at  a  distance ;  but  the  Lord  opened  the  hearts 
of  strangers  to  countenance  me  and  find  business  for 
me.  Yet  what  would  even  this  have  done  for  me 
had  I  been  without  education  ?  I  have  had  the  hap- 
piness of  seeing  my  children  possess  all  the  means 
of  a  most  liberal  education,  and  enjoying  a  circle  of 
worthy  friends  and  acquaintances.  If  I  am  taken 
away  before  they  be  of  age  to  carry  on  the  present 
school,  or  should  the  business  fail,  though  I  can  not 
leave  them  in  abundance,  I  should  leave  them  with 
such  acquisitions  and  talents  as  will  render  them 
blessings  to,  not  burdens  on  societ}^,  dependent 
though  they  will  be  on  character,  behavior,  and 
their  own  exertions  for  a  livelihood.  If  they  be- 
have with  propriety  wherever  they  are,  they  will  be 
respected,  and  entitled  to  keep  company  with  people 
of  education,  and  never  need  be  in  want  of  a  home 
gained  by  their  accomplishments.     Bless  the  Lord 


MES;  ISABELLA  GEAHAM'S   COUNSELS.  51 

with  me,  my  dear,  and  forget  not  all  His  benefits, 
who  is,  in  truth,  the  widow's  help,  the  orphan's  stay, 
and  the  stranger's  shield." 

Under  such  faithful  and  affectionate  training  she 
remained  until  the  family  left  Scotland  for  the  Unit- 
ed States. 


52  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 


CHAPTER  yi. 

RETURN  TO  AMERICA. 

Dr.  Graham's  Views  of  Settling  in  America. — Mrs.  Graham's  Plans. 
— Christian  Friends. — Dr.  Witherspoon. — Mrs.  Graham  and  Fam- 
ily arrive  in  New  York. — Reception. — Success. — Mrs.  Graham's 
School  and  Patrons. 

The  reader  will  remember  tliat  Dr.  Graham's  main 
motive  in  getting  commissioned  to  serve  in  America 
was  the  hope  of  finding  there,  with  his  young  wife's  fa- 
ther and  mother,  a  rural  agricultural  home.  Though 
the  idea,  as  he  entertained  it,  like  similar  projects  of 
many  others,  was  rather  romantic  than  wise,  the  im- 
pression remained  deep  on  the  mind  and  heart  of 
Mrs.  Graham ;  and  though  compelled  by  adverse  cir- 
cumstances, and  the  state  of  war  in  this  country  at 
the  time  of  her  widowhood,  to  return  to  Scotland, 
she  seems  never  to  have  lost  the  desire  of  establish- 
ing her  family  in  the  land  where  she  had  spent  the 
happiest  years  of  her  womanhood,  and  where  her 
daughters  were  born.  It  is  even  more  than  probable 
that  she  accepted  the  opening  made  for  her  in  Edin- 
burgh under  the  design  of  thoroughly  educating  her 
girls  for  a  similar  enterprise  in  New  York.  Her 
friend,  Mrs.  Major  Brown,  who  had  come  to  Scotland 
with  her  husband,  was,  as  we  have  stated,  a  native  of 
ISTew  York,  being  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Yanbrugh  Liv- 


KETURN  TO  AMERICA.  53 

ingston,  a  distinguished  member  of  that  opulent  fam- 
ily, even  then  occupying  a  high  social  position  in  the 
new  state,  as  it  had  from  an  early  day  in  the  colony. 
Doubtless  the  conversation  of  these  ladies  was  often 
turned,  in  their  confidential  moments,  to  the  city, 
which  soon  gave  strong  promise  of  its  future  pros- 
perity and  influence.  The  great  kindness  of  the 
Christian  friends  who  ministered  to  Mrs.  Graham  in 
1772,  when  on  her  way  to  Antigua,  and  most  proba- 
bly the  correspondence  of  Mrs.  Brown  with  her  rela- 
tives there,  were  not  without  the  effect  of  keeping 
alive  Mrs.  Graham's  predilections  and  desires.  Thus 
did  Providence  prepare  her  mind  to  listen  favorably 
to  the  suggestions  of  that  eminent  divine  and  distin- 
guished patriot,  the  Kev.  Dr.  Witherspoon,  who  paid 
a  visit  to  his  native  land,  and  was  intimate  with  the 
circle  of  Mrs.  Graham's  friends.  Devoted  to  the  high- 
est welfare  of  his  adopted  country,  which  he  served 
so  well,  and  especially  to  the  religious  and  general 
education  of  its  youth,  on  whose  proper  education  for 
their  duties  so  much  of  the  prosperity  of  the  young 
republic  depended.  Dr.  Witherspoon,  the  President  of 
Princeton  College,  readily  perceived  how  able  a  coad- 
jutant  such  a  woman  as  Mrs.  Graham,  with  such  a 
family,  would  be  to  him,  and  he  spared  no  pains  to 
persuade  her  that  in  New  York  she  would  find  a 
sphere  for  her  zeal  in  advancing  her  usefulness  and 
the  glory  of  God,  especially  as  it  was  his  deep  con- 
viction that  in  this  land  the  Church  of  God  would 
eminently  flourish,  and  become  a  praise  in  the  whole 


54  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

earth.  It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1789  she  broke  up  her  flourishing  school  in 
Edinburgh,  and,  tearing  herself  away  from  her  faith- 
ful and  beloved  friends,  who  had  been  her  stay  and 
comfort,  she  came,  after  having  received  earnest  invi- 
tations from  most  respectable  sources,  to  New  York, 
in  September  of  that  year.  She  was  received  with 
great  deference  and  kindness  by  the  best  people  in 
the  city.  This  was  partly  secured  to  her  by  the  re- 
gard of  the  friends  she  had  gained  in  1772,  a  number 
of  whom  were  still  living ;  also  by  the  distinguished 
introductions  she  was  favored  with  from  divines  and 
others  in  Scotland,  as  well  as  from  Dr.  Witherspoon, 
who  spared  no  efforts  to  open  for  her  the  best  oppor- 
tunities which,  from  the  combination  of  his  high  po- 
litical as  well  as  social  and  literary  eminence,  he  was 
well  able  to  accomplish ;  more  than  all,  from  the  deep 
anxiety  of  the  most  influential  families  in  New  York, 
and  throughout  the  country,  to  secure  for  their  daugh- 
ters such  an  instructress  as  Mrs.  Graham's  friends  cer- 
tified her  to  be. 

Mrs.  Graham's  school,  which  she  speedily  opened 
under  such  favorable  auspices,  was,  it  is  believed,  the 
first,  and  for  many  years  the  only  school  in  the  States 
where  young  ladies  could  obtain  a  thorough  and  ele- 
gant education,  with  the  yet  higher  advantages  of 
sound  Christian  training.  The  Congress  of  the  United 
States  then  held  its  sittings  in  New  York,  where,  con- 
sequently, the  President  (General  Washington),  the 
heads  of  departments,  and  the   members    of  both 


RETURN  TO   AMERICA.  65 

houses  resided,  at  least  for  a  considerable  part  of  the 
year.  Next  to  the  power  of  religion,  the  city  could 
scarcely  have  received,  especially  for  the  younger 
women,  a  greater  or  more  needed  blessing  than  such 
a  school  as  Mrs.  Graham's.  Hence  we  find  the  excel- 
lent Bishop  Moore,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  the  Kev. 
Dr.  Eodgers,  of  the  Presbyterian,  the  clergy  of  the 
Dutch  Church,  and  others  high  in  the  confidence  of 
the  Christian  community,  united  in  encouraging  Mrs. 
Graham  to  undertake  a  school  of  the  highest  order, 
which  was  soon  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  fully 
employed  the  talents  and  time  of  her  two  daughters, 
Joanna  and  Isabella  (afterward  Mrs.  Andrew  Smith, 
who  died  in  March,  1860,  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  at  the 
house  of  her  daughter,  the  widow  of  Mr.  John  Bry- 
don,  a  gentleman  of  modest,  but  very  great  worth), 
Jessy,  the  eldest,  having  married  Mr.  Hay  Stevenson 
soon  after  their  arrival. 


66  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 


CHAPTER  YII. 

EARLY  RELIGIOUS  LIFE. 

Joanna  Graham  a  Teacher. — Marries  Divie  Bethune,  Esq. — Her 
own  Record  of  Religious  Experience. — Remarkable  Conflicts. — 
Darkness. — Delirium. — Restoration  to  Health,  Peace,  and  Hap- 
piness. 

Joanna  had  now  reached  adult  womanhood,  and 
her  early  developed  love  of  education  led  her  to  de- 
vote her  ripe,  cultivated  powers  to  the  benefit  of  the 
pupils,  including,  as  has  been  said,  the  daughters  of 
many  of  the  most  distinguished  families  in  the  land, 
at  a  period  when  the  best  influence  of  instructed  and 
religious  mothers  over  the  future  rulers  of  the  young 
republic  was  so  especially  needed.  In  the  long  lapse 
of  time,  the  most  of  Mrs.  Graham's  pupils  have  pass- 
ed away  from  earth ;  but  Mrs.  Bethune's  family,  in 
earlier  days,  have  been  often  delighted  to  hear  from 
ladies  of  the  highest  and  most  important  positions  the 
warmest  expressions  of  grateful  admiration  for  Joan- 
na and  Isabella  Graham,  who  were  at  once  their  teach- 
ers, their  examples,  and  friends.  Thus  was  occasion- 
ed the  wide  and  commanding  influence  which  Mrs. 
Bethune  had  over  the  best  female  minds,  and  of  the 
highest  social  standing  with  reference  to  the  various 
schemes  of  usefulness  she  was  called  by  Providence 
to  inaugurate,  organize,  and  establish. 


EARLY  RELIGIOUS  LIFE.  57 

Joanna  continued  to  assist  her  mother  until  1795, 


when  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Divie  Bethune,  a  gen- 
tleman characterized,  like  herself,  by  ardent  piety,  a 
strong,  cultivated  mind,  sound  doctrinal  views,  great 
desire  and  great  aptness  for  usefulness,  so  that  their 
union,  while  it  increased  their  personal  and  domestic 
happiness,  favored  yet  more  their  zeal  and  faculties 
for  doing  good.  For  twenty-nine  years  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bethune  walked  hand  in  hand  through  the  private 
and  social  duties  of  the  Christian  life,  encouraojinsr 
and  assisting  each  other  in  successive  plans  of  relig- 
ious and  philanthropic  exertion,  which  have  been, 
some  of  them  for  many  years,  and  are  not  less  at 
present,  abounding  streams  of  usefulness  in  this  city, 
throughout  the  land,  and  in  many  foreign  parts,  mak- 
ing glad  the  City  of  our  God. 

Mrs.  Bethune's  personal  narrative  during  this  pe- 
riod, from  1789  to  1795,  in  the  manuscript  already 
referred  to,  and  from  which  large  extracts  have  al- 
ready been  made,  is  so  full  of  interest  that  I  tran- 
scribe it  almost  verhcUim. 

"We  left  Scotland  in  1789,  and,  after  passing 
through  a  fiery  trial,  arrived  in  New  York  Septem- 
ber 8th  of  that  year.  The  Lord  greatly  blessed  us, 
and  gave  us  favor  in  the  eyes  of  this  people.  He 
also  provided  for  us  Christian  friends,  Eev.  Dr.  Eodg- 
ers,  Dr.  Mason  [the  elder],  and  Mr.  Mason,  John  M. 
Mason  [afterward  the  eminent  Dr.],  dear  Mr.  Chrys- 
tie,  and  others.  The  first  winter  I  was  confined  en- 
tirely to  the  house  with  rheumatism  in  my  head, 
C2 


68  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

while  my  sisters  were  visiting  about ;  yet  it  pleased 
the  Lord  to  make  this  trial  a  blessing  to  me.  In  my 
retirement  and  frequent  solitude  I  remembered  my 
evil  ways,  and  loathed  myself  for  my  sins  in  God's 
sight.  I  read  Doddridge's  Kise  and  Progress  through, 
prayed  over  all  the  prayers  in  it,  and,  in  the  spring 
of  1790,  began  to  attain  some  degree  of  comfort.  Dr. 
Mason  often  called  and  spoke  to  us  in  the  most  affec- 
tionate manner,  never  failing  to  melt  me  into  tears. 
My  mother  saw  that  I  was  deeply  exercised,  and  per- 
suaded me  to  call  on  Dr.  M.,  who  seemed  pleased  with 
my  exercises,  and  advised  me  to  come  forward  to  the 
sacramental  table.  I  think  that  I  was  sincere,  and 
desired  with  my  whole  heart  to  belong  to  the  Lord ; 
but  I  had  not  yet  attained  sufficient  assurance.  Had 
I  continued  to  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord,  no  doubt 
I  should  have  attained  to  that  grace ;  but  alas !  alas ! 
like  the  Israelites  who  longed  after  the  flesh-pots  of 
Egypt,  I  imagined  that  I  might  indulge  in  what  the 
world  calls  innocent  amusements.  I  did  not  go  to  the 
play-houses  or  other  public  places  of  diversion,  ex- 
cept occasionally  to  a  concert ;  but  I  attended  private 
dancing  parties,  and  was  too  fond  of  gay,  thoughtless 
people,  and,  in  consequence,  I  was  miserable.  I  was 
trying  to  serve  God  and  Mammon.  Often,  when  in 
company,  I  used  to  look  round  me  and  wonder  if 
there  were  any  there  besides  my  sister  and  myself 
who  professed  to  be  followers  of  the  meek  and  lowly 
Jesus,  to  take  up  the  cross  and  go  after  Him  through 
evil  as  well  as  through  good  report.     I  had  often 


EARLY   RELIGIOUS   LIFE.  69 

convictions  that  I  ouglit  to  come  out  from  the  world 
entirely,  but  bad  not  tbe  resolution.  By  degrees  I 
discovered  the  emptiness  of  all  created  enjoyments, 
and  for  a  considerable  time  continued  to  be  unhappy 
in  worldly  company.  I  was  often  tempted  to  stay 
away  from  the  Lord's  table.  I  dreaded  death.  I 
knew  that  I  was  acting  contrary  to  the  law  of  God, 
and  feared  that  I  should  be  cast  out  at  last.  I  was 
even  tempted  to  wish  I  had  never  heard  the  Gospel 
in  my  youth,  that  it  might  make  a  stronger  impres- 
sion on  my  mind  as  if  I  heard  it  for  the  first  time. 
I  thought  that  I  had  sinned  away  my  day  of  grace, 
and  had  become  hardened  under  the  droppings  of  the 
sanctuary.  I  prayed  the  Lord  to  afilict  me,  to  do  any 
thing  to  me  so  that  I  might  attain  comfort  at  last. 
But  still  I  did  not  cut  with  the  world — I  did  not 
give  Him  my  whole  heart.  Li  1793  I  formed  an  ac- 
quaintance with  an  Irish  gentleman,  who  paid  me 
great  attention.  I  was  pleased  with  him,  for  he  was 
well  read,  especially  in  poetry,  of  which  I  was  then 
passionately  fond.  I  gave  him  no  encouragement 
except  my  company,  which  I  now  think  was  wrong. 
He  often  said  that  I  had  but  one  fault,  which  was  be- 
ing too  religious.  Alas !  I  thought  myself  any  thing 
but  that.  *  One  Sabbath  evening  he  persuaded  the 
maid  to  let  him  into  the  room  where  we  generally 
sat,  and  on  my  coming  in  from  attending  church  the 
third  time  that  day,  I  found  him  there.  He  immedi- 
ately began  to  talk  of  the  folly  of  going  so  often  to 
church,  and  that  he  hoped  to  get  me  where  the  sound 


60  MEMOIRS  OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

of  the  church  bell  was  never  heard.  I  shrank  from 
him  with  horror,  and  from  that  time  I  determined 
not  only  to  break  with  him,  but  also  never  to  give 
my  company  to  any  man  connected  with  whom  I 
might  be  exposed  to  breaking  the  Sabbath,  or  to 
temptation  which  I  was  convinced  I  could  not  resist. 
I  might  have  formed  a  matrimonial  connection  with 
a  wealthy  merchant,  but  was  preserved ;  or,  rather, 
Providence  so  ordered  circumstances  that  he  who  aft- 
erward became  my  beloved  husband  was  the  only 
one  who  actually  proposed  to  me,  which  was  rather 
unexpected,  as,  although  he  was  a  frequent  visitor 
and  highly  esteemed,  I  knew  not  at  the  time  of  the 
strong  attachment  he  felt  for  unworthy  me.  At 
the  communion  table,  after  my  dismissal  of  my  Irish 
lover,  I  made  a  solemn  vow  that  I  would  never  con- 
nect myself  in  marriage  with  one  who  was  not  a  de- 
cided Christian  in  profession  and  practice,  but  would 
rather  lead  a  single  life. 

"During  the  following  winter,  say  1793-94, 1  oc- 
casionally went  to  private  parties,  and  we  had  some- 
times dancing  in  our  house ;  but  I  had  no  relish  for 
such  enjoyments.  Mr.  Bethune  told  us  of  Dr.  Rodg- 
ers's  and  Dr.  Livingston's  lectures  on  "Wednesday  and 
Thursday  evenings,  and  also  the  prayer-meeting  on 
Tuesday  evenings,  maintained  by  the  Wall  Street 
Church  people  in  their  lecture-room  on  Nassau  Street, 
near  Wall  (west  side).  My  sister  and  myself  resolved 
to  attend  them,  which  we  did.  My  religious  exer- 
cises of  mind  were  deepened,  but  still  I  was  without 


EARLY   RELIGIOUS  LIFE.  61 

assurance.  I  no  longer  hungered  and  thirsted  after 
the  world ;  its  pleasures  were  husks  and  chaff  in  my 
mouth,  and  bitterness  in  retrospection ;  but  still  I  did 
not  altogether  decline  invitation,  partly  because  my 
sister  wished  to  go,  partly  because  I  knew  not  what 
excuse  to  make,  and  dreaded  the  laugh  of  the  world. 
Toward  the  middle  of  the  winter  I  spoke  again  to 
my  sister,  and  we  agreed  to  set  apart  Wednesday  and 
Thursday  evenings  for  attending  the  lectures  of  Drs. 
Livingston  and  Kodgers,  and  when  invited  out  on 
those  evenings  to  answer  we  'were  engaged.'  The 
very  next  Thursday  we  received  an  invitation  from 
one  of  our  former  boarding  scholars  to  an  evening 
party  given  as  a  farewell  to  New  York.  Upon  our 
returning  an  answer  that  we  were  engaged,  she  called 
herself  to  see  if  we  could  not  break  the  engagement, 
or  if  we  could  not  go  to  tea,  to  come  to  her  as  late 
even  as  9  o'clock.  To  this  my  sister  consented. 
Never,  never  shall  I  forget  the  lecture  of  that  even- 
ing. Dr.  Kodgers's  subject  was  the  38th  question  and 
answer  of  the  Shorter  Catechism :  '  What  benefits  do 
believers  receive  from  Christ  at  the  resurrection?' 
Ans.  '  At  the  resurrection,  believers,  being  raised  up 
in  glory,  shall  be  openly  acknowledged  and  acquitted 
in  the  day  of  judgment,  and  made  perfectly  blessed 
in  the  full  enjoying  of  God  to  all  eternity.'  While 
the  good  old  doctor  explained  and  commented,  I  in- 
wardly prayed  that  I  might  be  among  that  happy 
number,  and  felt  such  a  solemnity  on  my  mind  that 
the  world  and  every  thing  in  it  seemed  like  nothing, 


62  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETIIUNE. 

and  less  than  nothing.  I  loathed  myself  in  the  sight 
of  God,  and  asked  only  one  thing,  that  I  might  be  in- 
deed of  the  happy  number  of  those  described.  When 
coming  out  of  the  lecture-room,  I  asked  my  sister  if, 
after  such  a  solemn  season,  she  could  go  to  a  worldly 
party?  'No,'  she  replied;  'not  for  the  world.'  .  .  . 
That  evening  Dr.  Eodgers  gave  notice  that,  as  he 
should  necessarily  be  absent  from  the  city,  there 
would  be  no  lecture  on  the  following  Thursday. 
Next  day,  or  soon  after,  we  received  an  invitation  to 
a  party  for  that  evening ;  and,  as  there  was  to  be  no 
lecture,  we  could  not  with  truth  say  that  we  were  en- 
gaged, and  we  accepted.  I  determined  to  keep  it  out 
of  my  mind  as  much  as  possible,  and  made  no  addi- 
tional preparation  in  dress.  I  spent  some  time  in 
prayer  to  God  before  I  went,  earnestly  beseeching 
Him  that,  if  I  was  doing  wrong,  He  would  make  a 
way  of  escape  for  me.  My  mind  was  very  solemn 
all  the  evening,  and,  as  I  recollect,  the  master  of  the 
house  rallied  me  on  being  religious,  but  gave  a  tes- 
timony to  the  character  of  Dr.  Mason  as  being  '  an 
honest  priest ;'  that  is,  consistent  in  his  walk  and  con- 
versation with  what  he  preached.  'Alas!'  thought 
I,  'am  I  consistent?'  and,  looking  on  the  thoughtless 
crowd  flitting  in  the  dance  to  '  the  sound  of  the  viol,' 
I  said  to  myself, '  Are  these  the  persons  who  will  re- 
ceive the  blessings  of  eternal  life  as  Dr.  Eodgers  de- 
scribed them  ?  are  these  suitable  companions  for  me, 
if  I  am  a  follower  of  the  Lamb  ?'  I  danced  but  lit- 
tle, and  I  believe  that  my  serious  air  and  listless  man- 


EARLY   RELIGIOUS  LIFE.  63 

ner  gained  me  no  favor  with  my  partners.  As  we 
were  going  down  stairs  to  supper,  I  lifted  up  my 
heart  in  prayer  that  I  might  never  again  be  found  in. 
such  a  scene.  .  .  .  Judge  how  I  was  shocked  when 
the  master  of  the  house,  standing  at  the  foot  of  the 
table,  said,  '  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  said  grace  com- 
ing down  stairs,  to  save  time ;'  at  which  the  company 
laughed  heartily.  I  almost  feared  to  look  around, 
and  feared  lest  the  earth  should  open  and  swallow  us 
up ;  but  I  thought  myself  the  most  guilty  of  all,  for 
I  knew  better,  had  been  trained  in  the  nurture  of  the 
Lord  from  my  youth  up,  nay,  had  professed  at  the 
table  of  the  Lord  to  renounce  the  pomps  and  vanities 
of  this  world.  I  felt  ill ;  and,  declining  all  entreaties 
to  return  to  the  dancing-room,  we  ordered  our  sleigh 
and  went  home.  I  flew  to  my  chamber,  and,  throw- 
ing myself  with  all  my  feathers,  and  flowers,  and  fur- 
belows on  the  floor,  was  dumb  before  the  Lord.  I 
groaned,  and  wept,  and  loathed  myself  under  His  eyes, 
who  now  seemed  to  leave  me  in  despair.  All  I  re- 
member of  my  prayer  was  that  I  might  never  be 
found  in  the  seat  of  the  scorner  again.  Eising  from 
the  floor,  I  opened  my  Bible,  if  perchance  the  Lord 
would  send  me  some  comfort;  but  here  I  was  met 
with  these  words,  the  first  that  presented  themselves : 
'Woe  unto  them  that  are  at  ease  in  Zion  !'  (Amos,'vi., 
1) ;  and,  reading  on  through  the  prophecies,  I  could 
only  find  woes  denounced  against  myself;  but  one 
thing  I  resolved,  to  give  myself  no  rest,  night  or  day, 
until  I  found  grace  in  believing ;  for  I  felt  that  the 


64  MEMOIRS  OF   MES.  BETHUNE. 

world  could  never  fill  the  aching  void  I  felt.  If  I 
were  never  made  happy  in  believing,  I  could  not  and 
would  not  look  for  happiness  in  the  creature.  I  de- 
termined to  fast,  and  pray,  and  read ;  and  then  sure- 
ly the  Lord  would  accept  me.  I  borrowed  Pilgrim's 
Progress,  with  Scott's  notes,  and  read  it  w^ith  prayer ; 
but  I  could  not  get  out  of  the  '  Slough  of  Despond' 
with  Christian.  I  struggled,  indeed,  toward  the  side 
nearest  the  wicket  gate ;  but  Sinai's  fires  glared  on 
me,  and  I  could  not  see  the  Eedeemer's  smiling  face. 
Satan  constantly  suggested  that  I  had  sinned  away 
my  day  of  grace — that  I  had  'once  tasted  of  the  heav- 
enly gift,'  but  had  fallen  away,  and  it  was  '  impossible 
to  renew  me  again  unto  repentance ;'  in  short,  I  could 
see  '  no  more  sacrifice  for  sin'  for  me,  but  *  a  fearful 
looking  for  of  judgment  and  of  fiery  indignation, 
which  shall  devour  the  adversary.'  In  February, 
1794,  my  beloved  husband  professed  his  love  for  me ; 
and,  adverting  to  his  poverty,  he  talked  much  of  liv- 
ing by  faith.  Although  a  professor  of  Christian  faith 
before  him,  I  did  not  understand  him.  I  felt  sick  of 
the  world  ;  and,  blaming  myself  for  having  given  en- 
couragement to  former  admirers  whose  hopes  I  dis- 
appointed at  last,  I  determined  to  decline  his  address- 
es, and  did  so.  My  dear  mother,  who  loved  him  dear- 
ly, was  quite  angry  with  me,  and  declared  that  I  re- 
fused him  because  he  was  so  religious;  and  added, 
'Joanna,  if  he  has  asked  you  in  faith,  he'll  get  you  in 
spite  of  your  teeth  !'  I  said,  '  Now,  mother,  don't  go 
and  pray  about  it,  for  I  don't  expect  ever  to  marry ; 


EARLY  RELIGIOUS  LIFE.  65 

and,  besides,  it  would  be  the  height  of  imprudence  to 
give  him  encouragement,  and  make  so  long  an  en- 
gagement with  one  who  had  no  prospect  of  support- 
ing me.'  My  heart  was  free,  and  that  I  never  would 
give  encouragement  to  any  one  until  I  felt  a  prefer- 
ence for  him  over  every  worldly  consideration. 

"  Mr.  Bethune  continued  to  visit ;  and  as  my  mind 
was  every  day  becoming  more  and  more  serious,  and 
his  conversation  was  so  heavenly,  I  soon  found  that 
the  more  earnest  I  felt  to  attain  assurance  and  holi- 
ness of  life,  the  more  he  gained  on  my  affections,  and 
in  May  I  consented  to  wait  with  him  on  God  for  fu- 
ture provision  in  life.  He  proved  a  help-meet  to  me 
during  a  longer  season  of  darkness  and  doubt  which 
God  was  pleased  to  keep  me  in. 

"In  May,  1794,  we  moved  from  Broadway,  near 
the  Battery,  to  Liberty  Street — from  a  gay  neighbor- 
hood to  one  much  plainer,  and  the  Lord  thus  began 
to  answer  my  prayer,  and  to  fulfill  His  promise,  on 
which  I  had  laid  hold — Ex.,  xxxviii.,  28:  'Neither 
shall  they  defile  themselves  any  more  with  their 
idols,  nor  with  their  detestable  things,  nor  with  any 
of  their  transgressions ;  but  I  will  save  them  out  of 
all  their  dwelling-JDlaces  wherein  they  have  sinned, 
and  I  will  cleanse  them ;  so  shall  they  be  my  people, 
and  I  will  be  their  God.'  I  could  not,  at  that  time, 
live  out  of  the  promises.  I  hoped  against  hope.  I 
cried,  or  tried  to  say,  '  Lord,  I  believe !'  but  could 
adopt  only  the  last  part  of  the  verse,  '  Help  my  unbe- 
lief.'    During  all  these  exercises,  I  hid  them  from  my 


66  MEMOIES  OF   ]\[RS.  BETHUNE. 

motlaer  and  from  my  dear  friend,  as  I  thought  that 
they  would  despise  me  if  they  knew  what  a  hypo- 
crite I  was.  Often,  when  Mr.  Bethune  came  in,  have 
I  gone  from  my  knees  and  reading  my  Bible  to  play- 
ing and  singing,  or  light  conversation,  that  he  might 
be  blinded  to  my  true  feelings — so  much  so  that  he 
was  grieved  at  my  seeming  worldly-mindedness,  and 
prayed  much  that  I  might  be  brought  off  from  the 
world.  ...  I  tried  to  appear  what  I  professed  to  be, 
a  Christian^  but  my  conscience  accused  me  of  hypoc- 
risy. I  had  all  the  time  a  fearful  misgiving  that, 
while  I  had  a  name  to  live,  I  was  still '  dead  in  tres- 
passes and  sins.' 

"In  August  we  had  our  school  vacation.  My 
mother  had  engaged  country  lodgings  at  the  Nar- 
rows, Long  Island,  for  such  of  the  young  ladies  as 
had  no  place  to  go  to.  She  went  down  with  them  in 
a  boat,  and  Mr.  Bethune  was  to  drive  me  down  the 
next  day  in  a  gig.  The  day  previous  to  their  leav- 
ing, Mr.  Mason  lectured  on  the  parable  of  the  barren 
fig-tree  in  the  morning,  and  applied  the  subject  in  the 
afternoon.  Under  this  discourse  I  felt  as  if  he  had 
said,  '  Thou  art  the  woman !  For  three  3^ears  hast 
thou  been  a  professor,  and  have  brought  no  fruit !' 
I  acknowledged  it,  and  assented  in  my  mind  to  the 
justice  of  God  should  he  cut  me  down  as  a  cumberer 
of  the  ground.  I  felt  convinced  that  Mr.  Mason  had 
reference  to  me,  and  that  his  eyes  and  the  eyes  of 
many  in  the  church  were  fixed  on  me,  so  that  I  was 
obliged  to  put  down  my  head  on  the  book-board  be- 


EARLY  RELIGIOUS  LIFE.  67 

fore  me.  Mr.  Betliime  saw  liow  deeply  I  was  exer- 
cised, and  was  much  pleased.  In  the  evening  we 
went  to  hear  the  Kev.  Mr.  Pilmer,  in  Ann  Street ;  and 
it  was  so  ordered  that  his  subject  was  peculiarly  suit- 
able to  my  exercises.  His  text  was,  '  I  will  not  let 
Thee  go  until  Thou  bless  me!'  I  determined  on 
wrestling  in  prayer  until  I  found  the  blessing ;  but, 
still,  not  apprehending  Christ  as  freely  offered,  with- 
out money  and  without  price,  I  set  about  establish- 
ing a  righteousness  of  my  own.  I  sometimes  accused 
God  of  injustice  and  unfaithfulness,  as  if  I  had  com- 
plied with  His  requisitions,  and  He  had  not  fulfilled 
His  promise.  I  literally  wrestled  through  the  whole 
of  that  night,  and  rose  in  the  morning  to  shut  myself 
up  to  continue  wrestling,  and,  as  far  as  I  can  remem- 
ber, I  neither  ate  nor  drank  till  evening.  The  maid 
came  to  the  door  several  times,  begging  that  I  would 
take  some  food,  but  I  remained,  after  my  severe  wrest- 
ling and  agony,  in  a  kind  of  torpor,  from  which  I  was 
roused  to  exertion  only  by  the  thought  that  Mr.  Be- 
thune  would  soon  call,  and  I  felt  anxious  to  hide  my 
exercises  from  him.  I  rose  from  the  dust,  dressed 
myself,  and  went  down  to  the  parlor  to  wait  for  him. 
Opened  the  piano  and  began  to  play.  The  song  I 
opened  to  was  from  the  Woodman,  called  '  The  Sap- 
ling Oak.'  Here,  again,  my  own  case  met  me ;  and, 
what  is  strange,  I  seemed  to  discover  a  ray  of  light. 
The  song  describes  a  sapling  oak  lost  in  a  dell,  and 
thickly  surrounded  by  tangling  brakes,  which  pre- 
vented it  from  growing  to  maturity.  At  length  the 
woodman  cleaves  them  awa}^,  and, 


68  MEMOIES  OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

"  'High,  reviving  o'er  the  ground, 

The  forest  monarch  lifts  his  head.' 

....  Here,  tliought  I,  is  a  representation  of  myself. 
I  have  been  tampering  with  the  world,  and  its  cares, 
like  thorns,  have  choked  the  word,  and  prevented 
my  growth  in  grace.  The  Lord  will,  and  I  prayed 
that  He  would,  remove  all  these  '  tangling  brakes,' 
and  cause  me,  like  the  oak,  to  rise  above  all,  and  be- 
come '  a  goodly  tree  in  the  house  of  my  God.' 

"  After  I  went  to  the  Narrows  I  continued  reading, 
and  praying,  and  looking  for  deliverance.  Keeping 
still  among  the  promises,  I  could  read  nothing  but 
the  Bible.  I  hated  the  sound  of  every  thing  relating 
to  this  world.  I  thought  every  thing  sinful  except 
preparing  for  eternity.  Nothing  had  charms  for  me. 
Nature,  even  at  her  most  beautiful  season,  seemed  to 
mourn — the  whole  creation  to  groan — because  of  sin. 
A  poor  sailor,  that  came  begging,  and  used  profane 
language,  made  me  quite  sick,  and  I  shuddered  at  the 
awful  thought  of  the  multitudes  going  down  to  hell, 
and  Christians  caring  for  none  of  them.  I  wandered 
about  early  in  the  morning  and  late  in  the  evening, 
bemoaning  myself,  and  wondering  at  the  long-suffer- 
ing of  God  in  permitting  a  sinner  such  as  I  was  to 
live.  This  brought  on  a  severe  cold,  which  landed 
me  in  a  fever.  One  Sabbath  two  young  men  came 
down  in  a  boat  to  visit  me,  and  seeing  me  look  so 
poorly,  they  persuaded  me  that  a  sail  would  do  me 
good,  as  I  had  had  a  slow  fever  preying  on  me  for 
several  days.     I  thought  that  it  might  do  me  good. 


EARLY  RELIGIOUS  LIFE.  69 

and,  placing  it  among  tlie  works  of  mercy,  I  consent- 
ed; but  we  had  no  sooner  started  than  I  felt  con- 
vinced of  the  sin,  and  insisted  on  returning.  Thus 
was  my  conscience  again  wounded,  and  I  was  com- 
pelled to  keep  company  with  my  young  irreligious 
friends.  I  had  no  liberty  to  speak  to  them  on  relig- 
ious subjects,  knowing  that  they  might  well  say, 
'Physician, heal  thyself!'  or,  'First  pull  out  the  beam 
from  thine  own  eye !'  I  remember  that  it  was  with 
difficulty  I  could  keep  my  eyes  down,  I  was  so  con- 
stantly moved  to  raise  them  to  heaven.  During  the 
following  night  I  was  in  a  raging  fever;  and  next 
day,  when  it  intermitted  or  remitted,  I  remained  in  a 
state  of  stupidity,  or,  if  roused,  in  apathy.  I  envied 
an  old  black  man,  who  slept  in  a  garret  over  my  head, 
and  seemed  very  happy  in  singing  hymns.  Annie 
Stevenson  came  down,  and,  finding  me  so  ill,  insisted 
on  sending  for  the  doctor.  My  mother,  also,  who  had 
been  at  Belleville,  came  down  to  me.  My  beloved 
friend,  too,  walked  down  (nine  miles)  to  see  me  the 
same  day,  not  knowing  that  my  mother  had  returned. 
The  same  exercises  of  mind  continued ;  but  when  Mr. 
Bethune  spoke  of  the  vanity  of  the  world  at  such  a 
time,  I  told  him  '  not  to  speak  of  the  world,  for  I  had 
done  with  it  forever.'  I  think  that  it  was  the  second 
or  third  evening  after  my  mother  came  back  that  I 
was,  as  usual,  wondering  at  the  goodness  of  God  in 
permitting  sinners  to  remain  on  earth — my  mother 
reading  hymns,  though  I  do  not  know  that  I  was  at- 
tending to  her — when  all  at  once  I  felt  a  power  of 


70  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

great  darkness  fall  upon  me.  I  felt  as  if  I  were  hang- 
ing over  hell  by  a  single  hair.  Satan  seemed  to  say 
or  suggest,  '  You  wonder  that  they  and  you  are  out 
of  hell — how  can  you  dwell  with  everlasting  burn- 
ings?' Still  I  felt  that  this  was  not  a  reality,  but  a 
temptation.  The  cold  sweat  broke  out  on  my  face, 
and  my  agony  was  so  great  that  my  mother  said, 
'  Joanna,  my  dear,  what  is  the  matter  ?'  '  Oh,  moth- 
er,' I  replied,  'I  feel  as  if  I  were  hanging  over  the  pit! 
Satan  is  tempting  me!'  or  words  to  that  effect.  She 
immediately  laid  down  the  hymn-book,  and,  taking 
up  God's  own  word,  began  to  read  of  Paul's  tempta- 
tion. God  himself,  by  His  Spirit,  was  dealing  with 
me.  Not  many  minutes  after  the  scene'  changed,  and 
my  mind  seemed  transported  to  Mount  Calvary,  and 
with  the  eye  of  my  soul  I  saw  my  Savior  nailed  on 
the  cross,  and  heard  the  words, '  It  is  finished !'  There 
were  no  thieves,  no  soldiers,  no  followers — only  the 
dear  Savior  himself,  hanging  on  the  cross,  placed  on 
the  summit  of  a  bare  mount.  His  head  reclining  on 
His  bosom  after  having  uttered  these  last  words  of 
His.  I  cried  out,  'Mother,  I  see  the  Savior!'  and 
described  the  scene.  She  thought  that  I  was  deliri- 
ous, and  said  something  to  compose  me  to  sleep.  I 
replied  that  it  was  not  with  my  bodily  eyes,  but  with 
my  mind.  ...  I  was  next  transported  to  the  Garden 
of  Gethsemane,  and  there  as  plainly  I  was  witness  to 
my  blessed  Savior's  agony,  and  felt  as  if  He  had  said, 
'  All  this  I  endured  for  thee !  This  bitter  cup  I  drank 
to  the  dregs  before  I  suffered  on  the  cross,  and  said, 


EARLY  RELIGIOUS  LIFE.  71 

It  is  finislied !'  Immediately  the  fullness  and  suffi- 
ciency of  Christ's  atonement  blazed  on  my  mind.  I 
saw  it  a  finished  work — all  the  work  of  Christ,  to 
which  nothing  of  man's  could  be  added  to  gain  the 
favor  of  God.  The  burden  which  had  so  long  pressed 
on  my  shoulders  rolled  off  at  the  feet  of  my  Jesus, 
and  looking  to  the  dear  Lamb  of  God,  which  taketh 
away  the  sin  of  the  world,  I  cast  my  good  deeds  and 
my  sinful  burden  on  the  same  spot,  and  beholding 
Him  as  my  Savior,  I  could  at  last  hail  Him  as  '  my 
Lord  and  my  God!'  I  broke  out  in  the  fortieth 
psalm  (Scotch  version) : 

"  '  I  waited  for  the  Lord  my  God, 

And  patiently  did  bear ; 
At  length  to  me  He  did  incline, 

My  voice  and  cry  to  hear. 
He  took  me  from  the  fearful  pit, 

And  from  the  miry  clay, 
And  on  a  rock  He  set  my  feet. 

Establishing  my  way.' 

"From  that  moment  all  was  rapture.  The  prom- 
ises I  had  so  long  pleaded  seemed  yea  and  amen  in 
Christ  Jesus.  My  mourning  was  indeed  turned  into 
joy;  and  Scriptures,  hymns,  and  psalms,  and  all  I 
had  ever  learned,  seemed  now  as  clear  as  a  sunbeam ; 
and  from  wondering  why  we  were  permitted  to  be 
out  of  hell,  I  turned  to  wonder  at  the  glorious  plan 
of  salvation,  which  God  had  provided,  and  why  I  and 
others  could  not  see  its  fitness,  and  accept  what  was 
so  freely  offered  without  money  and  without  price. 
Every  thing  seemed  to  be  changed ;  even  the  face  of 


72  MEMOIRS  OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

Nature — the  trees  and  the  fields  were  clothed  with  a 
brighter  verdure.  I  looked  up  to  the  sky  and  ex- 
claimed with  the  Psalmist  (Psalm  viii.),  'When  I  con- 
sider the  heavens,'  etc.,  etc.  I  saw  emblems  of  my 
Savior  every  where.  I  looked  at  the  ocean,  and 
thought  of  His  boundless  love ;  at  the  rocks,  and  re- 
membered 'the  Eock  of  ages  cleft  for  me;'  at  the 
sands  on  the  shore,  and  considered  His  tender  mer- 
cies as  countless ;  in  short,  I  was  as  full  of  happiness 
as  I  had  been  of  misery;  as  full  of  confidence  as  I  had 
been  of  doubts ;  as  assured  of  my  interest  in  Christ, 
and  that  my  sins  had  been  laid  on  Him,  and  that  He 
was  the  scape -goat,  and  had  fled  away  with  them. 
The  burden  of  my  sins  was  upon  Him,  and  the  robe 
of  His  righteousness  thrown  around  me.  I  wrapped 
myself  in  it ;  and,  from  that  day,  I  have  gone  on  my 
way  rejoicing.  I  have  often  been  cold  and  dead;  I 
have  even  at  times  turned  aside,  as  it  were,  to  drink 
of  the  waters  of  Sihon  and  rivers  of  Damascus ;  but 
He  has  as  often  broken  the  cisterns  I  had  hewed  out 
for  myself,  and  turned  me,  by  His  chastising  rod,  back 
to  the  fountain  of  living  waters. 

"  The  communion  season  being  at  hand,  I  insisted 
on  returning  to  town  to  be  present  at  it.  'Now,' 
thought  I,  '  I  can  sit  down  under  His  shadow  with 
great  delight,  and  His  banner  over  me  will  be  love,' 
'because  his  anger  is  turned  away,  and  he  comforteth 
me.'  My  mother  and  friend  not  being  aware  of  my 
extreme  weakness,  brought  me  up  in  a  carriage,  and 
I  had  a  dreadful  time  of  it.     By  the  time  I  reached 


EARLY  RELIGIOUS  LIFE.  73 

home  I  had  relapsed ;  and  my  fever,  which  had  been 
bilious  remittent,  turned  to  a  nervous  fever,  which 
confined  me  to  my  bed  for  many  wrecks.  I  was  often 
delirious,  and  even  in  dreadful  spasms.  Still  I  was 
happy,  and  thought  that  I  was  going  to  my  Savior, 
but  my  mother  held  me  down,  and  would  not  let  me 
go.  It  was  long  before  I  recovered,  if  I  ever  fairly 
did;  and  certainly  I  had  not  when  I  was  united  to 
my  beloved  partner  the  July  following.  Now  we 
could  take  sweet  counsel  together;  and  I,  in  my  turn, 
became  a  help-meet  to  him — could  understand  some- 
thing of  the  principle  of  living  by  faith ;  and  when 
the  dear  saint  was  tried  by  Providence,  and  almost 
ready  to  give  up,  I  was  made  the  instrument  of  com- 
forting him,  and  of  pointing  to  Him  in  whom  are  all 
things  for  life  and  godliness.  We  sought '  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  His  righteousness;'  and  all  things 
necessary,  and  many  more,  have  been  added  unto  us. 
AVhen  we  were  completely  emptied  of  ourselves.  He 
filled  us  with  Himself  We  had  all  things  in  Christ, 
and  Christ  in  all  things." 

The  foregoing  narrative  has  been  given  verbatim 
from  Mrs.  Bethune's  manuscript,  as  it  affords  not  only 
an  authentic  account  of  her  personal  experience,  but 
also  as  it  affords  to  the  reader  a  most  pleasing  exhi- 
bition of  the  temper  and  principles  which  ruled  her 
life  throughout.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  she 
did  not  continue  her  autobiographical  record;  but 
she  evidently  meant  to  carry  it  no  farther  than  to 
her  establishment  in  the  Christian  faith,  and  the  pe- 

D 


74  MEMOIRS   OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

riod  when  her  history  became  so  blended  with  that 
of  her  Christian  husband.  Should  any  one  suspect, 
from  some  passages  in  the  paper,  that  she  was  apt  to 
be  carried  out  of  the  sound  judgment  of  a  sober  faith 
by  an  excited  imagination,  it  is  proper  to  reply  that 
unreal  fancies  were  very  far  from  being  characteristic 
of  her  mind,  which,  with  all  its  energy  and  spirituali- 
ty, was  unusually  chastened  and  scriptural,  founding- 
all  its  convictions  on  the  testimony  of  God  in  Scrip- 
ture, confirmed  by  the  witness  of  the  Holy  Ghost  with 
her  spirit.  It  is  not  difficult  for  an  observer  of  the 
phases  which  the  mind  sometimes  assumes  from  sym- 
pathy with  the  body,  to  see  that  her  thoughts  were 
affected  by  the  brain,  heated  by  fever,  and  swim- 
ming midst  the  undulations  of  the  disease  which  had 
shaken  her  strength  ;  but  the  fidelity  she  observed  in 
writing  her  recollections  savor  little  of  an  unwarrant- 
ed enthusiasm,  but  rather  gives  us  a  beautiful  exhi- 
bition of  a  living  faith  shining  through  and  turning 
to  a  heavenly  glory  the  infirmities  of  the  flesh. 


TLANS   OF    USEFULNESS.  75 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

PLANS   OF   USEFULNESS. 

Mrs.  Graham's  Correspondence. — Origin  of  the  Monthly  Missionary 
Pi-ayer-meeting.  — The  Mission  to  the  Indians. — Relief  of  Poor 
Widows  with  Small  Children. — New  York  Orphan  Asylum. 

It  is  now  proper  that  we  should  go  back  a  little  in 
date,  to  resume  the  thread  of  our  own  continuous  nar- 
rative. 

Mrs.  Graham,  notwithstanding  the  incipient  and 
onerous  duties  of  her  school,  maintained  a  constant 
correspondence  with  pious  friends,  her  former  Edin- 
burgh associates  in  religion  and  charity,  especially 
with  her  dear  and  most  intimate,  and,  as  appears  from 
her  letters,  her  strongest-minded  friend,  Mrs.  Baillie 
Walker.  The  interchange  of  pious  sentiments  be- 
tween these  devoted  and  intellectual  women  was 
highly  valued  by  them  both,  and,  on  Mrs.  Graham's 
part,  was  accepted  as  the  means  of  increasing  her  ac- 
tivity and  usefulness.  In  fact,  Mrs.  Graham  endeav- 
ored to  transfer  to  ISTew  York  the  same  spirit  and 
method  of  religious  activity  which  she  had  cultivated 
in  her  native  land  and  with  her  pious  Edinburgh 
friend,  and  hence  the  origination  of  not  a  few  chari- 
ties, eleemosynary  and  religious,  whose  happy  influ- 
ences are  felt  to  this  day.  It  was  about  this  time  that, 
by  the  reviving  blessing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  a  mis- 
sionary spirit  began  to  prevail  in  the  evangelical 


76  MEMOIKS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

cliurclies  of  Great  Britain,  which,  of  course,  excited 
the  ardent  sympathy  of  Mrs.  Walker  and  Mrs.  Gra- 
ham. Mrs.  Walker  lost  no  time  in  sending  to  New- 
York  sermons,  reports,  and  other  tracts  on  these  ani- 
mating subjects,  which  Mrs.  Graham  eagerly  received, 
and,  not  willing  to  confine  the  pleasure  to  herself,  was 
accustomed  to  call  together  her  most  intimate  Chris- 
tian friends  for  the  purpose  of  reading  to  them,  and 
uniting  with  them  in  conversation  and  prayer  in  ref- 
erence to  the  conversion  of  the  world.  These  pri- 
vate meetings  grew  in  interest  and  in  numbers.  Dr. 
Rodgers,  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Dr.  Mason,  of 
the  Scotch  Associate  Church,  Dr.  Livingston,  of  the 
Dutch  Church,  and  some  of  the  Baptist  ministers, 
whose  names  have  not  reached  us,  were  drawn  into 
their  sphere,  and  it  resulted  in  the  establishment  (Feb- 
ruary, 1798)  of  a  monthly  missionary  prayer-meeting, 
held  on  the  evening  of  the  first  Wednesday  of  each 
month,  in  one  another's  houses  of  worship,  by  a  union 
of  the  three  denominations  just  named. 

Was  not  this  the  first  monthly  concert  of  prayer 
for  blessing  on  the  missionary  enterprise  of  modern 
times  ?  The  first  meeting  of  this  kind  was  held,  if  I 
mistake  not,  in  the  Scotch  Associate  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Cedar  Street,  then  Dr.  John  M.  Mason's; 
the  second  in  the  Wall  Street  Presbyterian  Church, 
then  Dr.  Rodgers's ;  another  in  the  Middle  Dutch 
Church,  Nassau  Street.*    I  can  not  trace  them  farther. 

*  See  Letters  of  Mrs.  Isabella  Graham,  No.  xiii.,  to  Mrs.  W.  Bail- 


PLANS   OF   USEFULNESS.  77 

As  a  natural  result  of  these  prayers,  a  society  was 
founded  in  New  York  for  sending  missionaries  among 
the  Indians,  and  also  among  the  poor  scattered  settlers 
on  the  frontiers.  The  first  annual  sermon  of  this  so- 
ciety was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Livingston.  It 
is  carefully  to  be  noted  that  a  copy  of  this  missionary 
sermon  by  Dr.  Livingston  was  one  of  the  publications 
on  the  subject  which  were  read  by  the  young  pio- 
neers of  missions,  who  prayed  under  the  shelter  of  the 
hay -stack  at  Williamstown.  It  is  pleasing  and  most 
instructive  thus  to  trace  the  links  in  God's  providence 
toward  the  accomplishment  of  His  own  designs  by 
His  blessing  on  the  prayers  and  zeal  of  His  people. 

Mrs.  Graham's  religion  was  patterned  too  closely 
after  the  example  of  her  Divine  Lord  to  allow  neglect 
of  bodily  wants  while  seeking  the  salvation  of  the 
soul ;  and  so  we  find  that,  in  the  midst  of  her  mis- 
sionary zeal,  which  led  to  the  formation  of  the  earliest 
missionary  society,  she  projected,  and  carried  into  suc- 
cessful operation  (November,  1797),  the  "  Society  for 
the  Relief  of  Poor  Widows  with  Small  Children" — a 
society  which  is  still  flourishing  in  active  usefulness, 
having  been  continued,  with  unremitting  energy,  by 
successive  almoners  of  most  Christian  charity,  who 
have  remembered  the  apostolical  injunction,  to  visit 
the  widows  and  fatherless  in  their  affliction.  I  copy 
from  the  Memoirs  of  Mrs.  Graham  an  account  of  the 
institution  of  this  society,  as  it  includes  the  first  ef- 

He  Walker ;  also,  Mrs.  Graham's  Life  (Tract  Society's  edition),  p. 
129,  130,  131. 


78  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

fort  of  Mrs.  Betliune  in  the  exercise  of  active  benevo- 
lence. 

"  Mr.  Betliune,  in  the  year  1796,  was  one  of  the  dis- 
tributing managers  of  the  St.  Andrew's  Society  of 
ISTew  York.  The  relief  of  this  national  society  be- 
ing confined  to  Scotch  people,  Mrs.  Bethune's  feelings 
were  much  interested  for  such  applicants  as  could  not 
be  helped  by  her  husband's  almonership,  and  she,  at 
the  first,  collected  small  sums  for  their  relief;  but,  anx- 
ious to  put  the  charity  on  a  firmer  basis,  she  consulted 
with  some  other  ladies,  called  a  meeting  at  Mrs.  Gra- 
ham's house,  organized  a  society  under  the  above  title, 
elected  a  Board  of  Managers,  and  Mrs.  Grraham  First 
Directress,  Mrs.  Sarah  Hoffman  Second  Directress,  and 
Mrs.  Bethune  Third  Directress.  Many,  very  many 
widowed  have  been  made  to  sing  for  joy  through  the 
timely  comfort  afforded  by  the  society  so  established 
during  every  year  since.  Mrs.  Graham  continued  in 
the  chief  direction  of  the  "Widows'  Society  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  was  constantly  assisted  in  the  work 
by  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Bethune,  until  the  year  1806. 

"It  had  long  before  that  time  been  discovered  by 
the  ladies  of  the  Widows'  Society  that  some  systemat- 
ic provision  should  be  made  for  the  orphan  children 
of  the  deceased  widows,  as  it  was  not  within  the  scope 
of  their  society  to  assist  them  after  the  mothers  had 
been  taken  away.  This  led,  ultimately,  to  the  found- 
ation of  the  New  York  Orphan  Asylum,  under  the 
care  of  a  society  of  ladies  bearing  that  name,  an  ac- 
count of  which  will  be  given  hereafter." 


79 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MRS.  BETHUNE's  associates. 
Sketches  of  Mrs.  Lindsay,  Mrs.  Chrystie,  and  Mrs.  Mackanness. 

From  what  has  been  said  it  will  be  seen  that  Mrs. 
Bethune,  at  the  beginning  of  her  open  Christian  life, 
enjoyed  great  advantages  of  Christian  society.  Be- 
sides the  eminent  men  of  the  ministry  whom  we  have 
named,  and  who  were  frequent  visitors  at  her  moth- 
er's house,  and  the  religious  spirit  in  her  own  family, 
tradition,  rather  than  record,  has  preserved  the  mem- 
ory of  several  pious  ladies,  whom  Mrs.  Bethune  loved 
for  their  heartfelt  piety,  and  venerated  as  examples 
for  their  strong  intelligence  and  edifying  discretion. 

Among  these  was  Mrs.  Lindsay,  a  Scotch  lady, 
wife  of  Mr.  Robert  Lindsay,  an  active  member,  if  not 
elder,  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lindsay  were  plain,  pious,  unpretentious  people, 
who  manifested  in  all  their  lives  the  Spirit  of  their 
Divine  Lord  by  love  of  the  truth,  kindness  to  the 
poor,  and  zeal  in  every  method  of  advancing  the 
cause  of  Christ.  The  author  has  not  been  able, 
though  after  much  search,  to  find,  at  this  late  day, 
any  memorials  of  Mrs.  Lindsay  which  would  display 
her  character;  but  he  would  be  ungrateful  to  the 
memory  of  one  of  his  mother's  most  valued  friends, 


80  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

and  one  -whom  she  visited  and  clierislied  to  the  last 
as  a  mother  in  Israel,  and  a  wise,  sympathizing  coun- 
selor for  things  of  time  and  eternity,  did  he  not  pre- 
serve on  this  memorial  page  the  name,  now  almost 
forgotten,  but  one  Veil  known  and  beloved  by  Chris- 
tians of  New  York,  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Lindsay.  She 
lived  to  a  very  advanced  age,  closing  her  pilgrimage 
in  the  year  1847,  Mrs.  Bethune  having  had  the  privi- 
lege of  ministering  at  her  death  bedside. 

Another  of  the  most  intimate  and  highly-prized 
friends  of  Mrs.  Graham  and  her  family  was  Mrs. 
Chrystie,  the  widow  of  Major  James  Chrystie,  of  the 
Eevolutionary  army.  lie  was  by  birth  a  Scotch- 
man ;  and,  having  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania  in 
1775,  ardently  adopted  the  colonial  cause,  and  en- 
tered the  army  as  a  lieutenant  in  1776,  from  which 
rank,  the  year  following,  he  was  advanced  to  a  cap- 
taincy, being,  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven,  the  oldest 
captain  in  the  Pennsylvania  line.  Major  Chrystie 
enjoyed,  in  a  special  degree,  the  confidence  of  Gener- 
al Washington,  a  striking  proof  of  which  was  given 
at  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  Arnold's  treason. 
Washington,  being  anxious  to  know  the  state  of  the 
garrison  at  AYest  Point  and  the  neighboring  posts, 
sent  (then)  Captain  Chrystie  with  verbal  orders,  not 
being  willing  to  run  the  risk  of  written  papers  fall- 
ing into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  "  Has  your  excel- 
lency any  farther  orders?"  asked  Captain  Chrystie. 
"Yes,"  replied  the  general;  "one,  and  that  a  very 
serious  one:  Captain  Chrystie,  on  this  occasion  you 


81 

are  not  to  let  me  hear  of  your  being  taken  prisoner. 
Do  you  understand  me?"  "Perfectly  well,"  was  tlie 
answer;  "you  shall  not  hear  of  that  event."  Cap- 
tain Chrystie  accomplished  his  mission  in  so  short  a 
time  that  Washington,  on  seeing  him  approach,  sup- 
posed that  he  had  been  driven  back,  but  was  soon  re- 
assured and  satisfied  by  the  captain's  report. 

Mrs.  Mary  Chrystie  was  the  daughter  of  a  Lutheran 
clergyman,  the  Eev^  John  Albert  Weygand,  a  man 
noted  for  piety,  and  learning,  and  great  beauty  of 
person.  After  finishing  his  University  course  at 
Halle,  he  lingered  for  a  while  in  that  city,  until  a 
heart-sore  trial  rendered  him  glad  to  emigrate  (1746) 
to  this  country  as  the  minister  of  a  colony  from  the 
Palatinate;  and  in  1748,  by  the  advice  and  recom- 
mendation of  the  first  Lutheran  Sjmod  in  America, 
he  became  the  minister  of  their  Church  at  Eeading. 
Some  ten  years  afterward,  Eev.  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
writes  to  his  friends  in  Germany  that  "he  found  the 
Pastor  Weygand  laboring,  with  the  blessing  of  God, 
in  New  York  and  its  vicinity ;  and  that  the  congre- 
gations under  his  care  were  enjoying  spiritual  peace 
and  prosperity."  Mary  (Mrs.  Chrystie)  was  about  ten 
years  old  when  her  parents  moved  to  New  York, 
where  they  resided  until  their  deaths.  Being  left  the 
eldest  of  the  orphan  family,  the  care  of  her  brothers 
and  sisters  devolved  upon  her  when  a  little  more 
than  twenty  years  of  age ;  and  she  displayed  great 
energy,  faithfulness,  and  prudence  in  the  execution 
of  her  trusts,  the  favor  of  her  God  and  her  father's 
D2 


82  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

God  resting  upon  her  exertions.  She  was  married 
to  Major  Chrj^stie  in  1781,  with  whom  she  lived  most 
happily  until  March,  1798,  when  he  departed  this  life, 
in  full  reliance  on  "the  finished  work  of  the  Eedeem- 
er,  clinging  closely  to  the  cross,  at  whose  foot  none 
ever  perished."  Mrs.  CErystie  was  then  required  to 
exert  herself  personally  for  the  care  of  her  family, 
from  which  she  was  soon  relieved  by  her  eldest  son, 
thus  being  permitted  to  enjoy  with  greater  freedom 
the  pious  and  intelligent  society  of  the  friends  she 
loved,  by  whom,  in  turn,  she  was  greatly  esteemed 
and  cherished  until  her  death  of  immortal  gain. 

Mrs.  Chrystie  enjoyed  an  intimate,  confidential,  and 
pious  friendship  with  a  Mrs.  Mackanness,  who  also 
became  intimate  with  the  circle  in  which  Mrs.  Gra- 
ham and  her  daughters  had  the  privilege  to  find  de- 
lightful intercourse.  Of  Mrs.  Mackanness,  the  writer 
of  this  biography  knew  little  more  than  that  she  also 
was,  like  Mrs.  Chrystie,  the  wife  of  a  Scotchman ;  and 
that,  with  her  friends  Mrs.  Chrystie  and  Mrs.  Gra- 
ham, she  belonged  to  the  Scotch  Church  in  Cedar 
Street,  at  first  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  elder 
Eev.  Dr.  John  Mason,  afterward  under  that  of  his 
yet  more  distinguished  son,  the  Eev.  Dr.  John  M.  Ma- 
son. This  church  association,  as  it  may  have  been 
the  occasion  of  the  intimacy  of  these  pious  women, 
contributed  to  'perpetuate  it  while  they  remained  on 
earth.  The  name  of  Mrs.  Mackanness  was  often  on 
the  lips  of  Mrs.  Bethune  as  of  a  friend  greatly  be- 


MRS.  bethune's  associates.  83 

loved,  and  of  a  saint  whose  faitli  slie  loved  to  follow, 
who  inherited  the  promises. 

Mrs.  Chrjstie  was  a  woman  of  great  loveliness  in 
mind  and  in  person,  retaining  until  the  last  most 
charming  traces  of  the  rare  beauty  which  distinguish- 
ed her  family.  The  biographer  can  not  close  this 
brief  notice  of  his  mother's  friend  better  than  in  the 
words  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Hugh  Smith,  (at  one  time)  of 
St.  Peter's,  Chelsea,  New  York,  who  has  recorded  his 
recollections  thus : 

...  "A  similar  impression  was  produced  on  my 
mind  by  one  whose  name  is  associated  with  all  that 
is  active  in  benevolence  or  saintly  in  piety  (Mrs.  Isa- 
bella Graham).  And  there  was  another,  the  friend 
of  her  heart,  with  whom  she  often  '  took  sweet  coun- 
sel,' who  shunned  the  eye  and  applause  of  men  while 
she  lived,  and  whose  name,  therefore,  may  not  appear 
upon  this  humble  page  [Mrs.  Mary  Chrystie],  but  on 
whom  the  writer  never  looked  without  being  remind- 
ed of  Him  who  was  '  meek  and  lowly  in  heart.'  It 
is  said  that  the  strength  of  earthly  affection,  and  the 
habit  of  sweet,  familiar  intercourse,  will  sometimes 
•cause  a  change  gradually  to  pass  over  the  features, 
and  assimilate  in  countenance  those  who  are  assimi- 
lated in  taste  and  character.  Certainly  the  love  and 
practice  of  piety — the  daily  exercise  of  benevolent 
feelings  and  Christian  affections,  do  add  a  peculiar 
grace  and  benignity  to  the  aspect.  It  was  so  with 
her.  She  was  lovely  amid  the  wanings  of  age.  A 
heavenly   expression   played   over  her  placid   and 


84  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

speaking  features ;  while  her  soft,  musical  voice,  with 
its  silvery  tones,  seemed  already  attuned  to  accompa- 
ny the  golden  harps  of  heaven  in  the  '  song  of  the 
redeemed.'  Years  have  elapsed  since  she  departed 
'to  be  with  Christ;'  but  her  countenance,  with  its  ra- 
diant expression,  is  distinctly  before  me,  and  my  ears 
seem  to  drink  in  again  the  mellow  sounds  they  loved 
to  hear.  These  were  saints  indeed.  '  Their  witness 
was  on  high ;  their  record  was  above.'  They  were 
not  of  our  external  communion  ;  but  truly  their  '  fel- 
lowship was  with  the  Father,  and  His  Son,  Jesus 
Christ;'  and  deeply  had  they  drunken  of  His  Spirit. 
'  They  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  fol- 
low them.' " 

Mrs.  Chrystie  was  survived  by  her  son,  Albert 
Chrystie,  Esq.,  who  married  Frances,  daughter  of  the 
very  distinguished  Colonel  William  Fen  (one  of  the 
framers  of  the  American  Constitution,  member  of  the 
first  Senate  of  the  United  States,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.),  orig- 
inally of  Georgia,  but,  after  his  marriage  with  Catha- 
rine, daughter  of  Commodore  James  Nicholson,  a  res- 
ident of  New  York,  who  died  August  7th,  1854,  on 
her  ninetieth  birthday.  Mr.  Chrystie  inherited,  with 
a  strong  personal  resemblance  to  his  mother,  her  pi- 
ous, retiring,  benevolent,  and  zealous  character.  Mr. 
Chrystie,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  a  greatly  be- 
loved elder  of  the  Eeformed  Dutch  Church  of  Has- 
tings, upon  the  Hudson,  a  church  he  helped  to  found, 
and  whose  continued  prosperity  is  a  monument  to  his 
worth.     "  Having  the  refinement  and  polish  of  the 


MRS.  bethune's  associates.  85 

circle  in  which  he  had  always  moved,  with  a  heart 
of  unaffected  kindness,  the  only  and  unfailing  source 
of  true  courtesy,  he  evinced,  wherever  he  went,  the 
bearing  of  a  thorough  Christian  gentleman,  and  com- 
manded universal  respect."  Mr.  Chrystie  died  in 
1856,  in  his  67th  year. 

Mrs.  Mackanness,  another  intimate  associate  of  this 
period,  whose  name  was  often  on  Mrs.  Bethune's  lips, 
and  never  without  expressions  of  affectionate  rever- 
ence, was  the  early  and  intimate  friend  of  Mrs.  Chrys- 
tie, being  mentioned  in  her  journal  as  the  instrument 
of  her  brother-in-law's  conversion.  She  was  a  wom- 
an of  strong  mind,  warm  feelings,  and  most  elevated 
piety.  With  dignity  of  manner  that  almost  inspired 
awe,  and  ever  checked  frivolity  and  levity,  she  yet 
inspired  confidence  and  love.  Her  imagination  was 
not  lively,  but  common  sense  marked  all  her  acts. 
So  clear  and  discriminating  was  her  mind,  and  so 
pure  her  conduct,  that  the  ascendency  she  possessed 
over  all  who  approached  her  was  almost  unbounded 
— ever  mingled  with  the  deepest  reverence.  The 
storms  of  the  Eevolutionary  War  swept  over  the 
youthful  days  of  Mrs.  Mackanness  and  Mrs.  Chrystie. 
The  stirring  scenes  of  that  period,  so  full  of  toil,  care, 
and  perplexity  to  American  women,  cemented  their" 
young  hearts ;  and  the  blasting  of  early  hopes  taught 
them  to  look  beyond  the  blessings  of  this  world,  and 
to  cast  the  anchor  of  their  souls  above,  where  "  no 
sad  changes  come."  .  .  .  They  walked  meekly  and 
quietly  here,  and  both  departed  peacefully  to  take 


86  MEMOIRS  OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

possession  of  mansions  on  higli ;  not  there  to  lose  the 
kindly  affections  of  love  and  joy  which  had  refresh- 
ed them  in  their  path  through  the  wilderness,  but, 
having  laid  down  the  clogs  of  earth,  they  are  forever 
"  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  God." 

It  is  said  of  Mrs.  Mackanness  that  her  joy  and  con- 
fidence, when  dying,  exhibited  a  perfect  victory  over 
the  last  enemy.  "  All,"  said  she,  at  one  time,  "  all. 
that  we  have  ever  seen,  all  that  we  have  ever  heard, 
are  bubbles — bubbles  now !"  Even  when  her  mind 
wandered,  the  same  heavenly  peace  possessed  her 
soul;  and,  imagining  that  she  saw  her  departed 
friends,  she  joyfully  saluted  them  by  name,  bowing 
her  head  and  smiling  in  the  most  animated  and  de- 
lighted manner.  Mrs.  Mackanness  died  in  ISTew  York, 
after  a  very  sliort  illness,  on  the  17th  day  of  March, 
1806. 

The  intimacy  between  the  Mackanness  and  the 
Bethune  family  must  have  been  close ;  and  it  would 
seem,  from  the  following  obituary  notice  written  by 
Mr.  Bethune,  that  there  were  business  as  well  as  so- 
cial relations  between  them. 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Thomas  Thornton  Mack- 
anness^ co-partner  in  the  house  of  Divie  Bethune  & 
Co.,  and  son  to  Thomas  Mackanness,  Esq. :  a  most 
excellent  youth,  endeared  to  his  parents  and  relatives 
by  all  that  is  tender  and  dutiful,  and  to  society  by 
all  that  is  amiable  and  upright.  He  fell  a  victim  to 
the  yellow  fever,  on  the  10th  of  September,  1805, 
aged  22  years. 


MKS.  bethune's  associates.  87 

The  bliss  in  God's  rich  promise  given, 

This  child  of  faith  and  prayer 
Found  not  on  earth,  so  fled  to  heaven. 

To  taste  its  fullness  there. 

****** 

Nor  youth,  nor  wealth,  nor  love  could  save 

His  body  from  the  tomb ; 
But  Jesus  triumphed  o'er  the  grave. 

And  took  his  spirit  home." 


88  MEMOIRS   OF   MKS.  BETHUNE. 


CHAPTEE  X. 

INTRODUCTION  OF  SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 

Journey  to  Scotland. — Sunday-school  Movement  there. — Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bethune's  Labors  in  New  York  in  1802. — The  Mother  of 
Sabbath-schools  in  America. — Plans  of  Usefulness. 

For  a  number  of  these  years  the  health  of  Mrs. 
Bethune  suffered  greatly  from  several  causes,  which 
shattered  her  nervous  system  to  a  degree  from  which 
she  did  not  recover  until  late  in  life.  There  is,  con- 
sequently, little  to  record  of  active  engagements  dur- 
ing this  period.  In  1801,  Mr.  Bethune,  hoping  to  get 
benefit  for  the  invalid,  took  his  wife  and  eldest  child, 
Jessy,  to  Great  Britain,  that  they  might  visit  the  place 
of  his  birth  (Dingwall,  Eoss-shire,  Scotland)  and  their 
surviving  friends.  They  returned  to  New  York  in 
September,  1802.  Their  visit  to  Scotland  was,  in  one 
particular,  attended  by  a  remarkable  result. 

"  As  early  as  1797  a  public  movement  was  made 
in  Edinburgh  in  favor  of  Sunday-schools  in  Scotland. 
A  number  of  pious  persons  of  various  denominations 
had,  for  a  few  months,  been  in  the  habit  of  meeting 
to  pray  for  the  advancement  of  religion  at  home  and 
abroad.  The  duty  of  accompanying  their  prayers 
with  personal  exertions  naturally  occurred  to  them, 
and  led  their  minds  to  the  education  of  poor  chil- 
dren.    They  formed  'The  Edinburgh  Gratis  Sab- 


INTRODUCTION   OF  SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.  89 

bath-school  Society,'  to  raise  and  conduct  Sabbath 
evening  schools  in  Edinburgh  and  its  vicinity,  in 
which  schools  the  Christian  doctrines  common  to  the 
associated  denominations  only  were  to  be  taught,  and 
the  duties  all  to  be  performed,  without  pay,  by  the 
members  of  the  society.  This  procedure  became 
rapidly  popular,  and  was  imitated  by  other  cities,  and 
soon  throughout  Scotland."  The  circle  in  Edin- 
burgh with  whom  this  good  work  began  was  one  to 
which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bethune  would  most  likely  be 
introduced,  and  a  scheme  so  consonant  to  their  dis- 
positions must  have  arrested  their  attention.  Hence 
we  are  not  surprised  to  learn  that,  "in  New  York, 
the  late  Mr.  Bethune,  assisted  by  his  lady  and  her 
mother,  had,  at  their  own  expense,  opened  a  school 
as  early  as  1802  [the  year  after  their  return  from 
Scotland],  and,  shortly  after,  several  more,  in  oth- 
er parts  of  the  city,  and  personally  superintended 
them."* 

The  author  deeply  regrets  that  his  searches  have 
failed  to  discover  any  authentic  records  of  these 
schools ;  but,  from  various  consenting  circumstances, 
is  strongly  inclined  to  believe  that  the  Edinburgh 
movement  had  its  origin  farther  back  than  the  pub- 
lic society,  the  date  of  which  is  given  by  Mr.  Green 
(1797),  and  that  it  arose  in  that  pious  circle  of  which 
Mrs.  Baillre  Walker,  and,  until  her  death.  Lady  Glen- 
orchy,  with   other  devoted  Christians,  were   active 

*  See  speech  of  Timothy  R.  Green,  Esq.,  at  the  New  York  Sun- 
day-school Jubilee,  in  Sunday  Journal  of  that  date. 


90  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

members,  and  to  wliicli  Mrs.  Graham,  during  her  res- 
idence in  Edinburgh,  belonged.  The  correspondence 
closely  maintained  between  Mrs.  Baillie  Walker  and 
Mrs.  Graham  was,  as  we  have  seen,  the  medium  by 
which  the  reviving  missionary  spirit  was  transmitted 
from  Scotland  to  this  country ;  and  we  also  know 
that  Mrs.  Graham  was  engaged  personally  in  teach- 
ing a  school  for  young  women  on  Sabbath  evenings 
as  early  as  1792-3.  The  synchronism  was  not  acci- 
dental. However,  be  that  as  it  may,  we  can  not  doubt 
that  Mrs.  Bethune's  mind  received  its  strong  impulse 
toward  Sabbath-schools  during  her  visit  to  Scotland 
in  1801-2.  The  impulse  was  never  lost;  but  ill 
health,  the  birth  and  care  of  children,  and  occupation 
in  other  enterprises  (particularly  the  formation  and 
establishment  of  the  New  York  Orphan  Asylum, 
1806,  etc.),  prevented  it  from  so  fully  occupying 
her  mind  until  many  years  afterward,  1814,  when  in- 
creasing attention  to  Sunday-schools  in  England,  ac- 
counts of  which  were  communicated  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bethune  by  the  godly  Stephen  Bush,  of  Bristol,  En- 
gland, roused  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bethune  to  similar  efforts. 
The  Sabbath-schools  of  Scotland  were  combined  in  a 
National  Union  in  1816 ;  the  Female  Sabbath-school 
Union  of  New  York  was  formed  through  the  efforts 
of  Mrs.  Bethune  in  the  same  year,  though  the  imme- 
diate influence  which  operated  in  this  latter  case 
came  rather  from  England,  though  the  formation  of 
the  Sabbath  Union  by  Mrs.  Bethune  was  the  ripe 
growth  of  seed  sown  and  cultivated  from  the  year 
1802. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.  91 

It  would  be  inconsistent  with  tlie  meek  spirit  of 
her  whose  life  we  are  writing  to  claim  for  her  the 
honors  of  a  doubtful  precedence;  and  certainly  no 
one  rejoiced  more  than  she  did  in  the  several  efforts 
to  establish  Sunday-schools  in  different  parts  of  the 
country ;  but  the  facts  and  dates  thus  given  show  that 
Providence  intended  for  Mrs.  Bethune  the  distinction 
of  being  the  mother  of  Sabbath-schools  in  America. 

It  should  also  be  noted  that,  about  this  period,  Mrs. 
Graham  became  anxious  for  the  instruction  of  the 
children  of  the  widows,  pensioners  of  the  "Widows' 
Society,  and,  consulting  with  her  daughter,  devised  a 
plan  for  teaching  them,  and  others  similarly  situated, 
by  the  voluntary  agency  of  young  ladies ;  and,  "  on 
the  17th  of  February,  180-1,"  Mrs.  Graham  writes 
(Life,  p.  231),  "twenty-nine  young  ladies  met,  with 
Mrs.  (Sarah)  Hoffman  and  myself,  at  Mr.  O(gden) 
Hoffman's,  Wall  Street ;  and,  having  separated  them- 
selves in  pairs,  devoted  themselves"  to  a  work  not  a 
little  resembling  the  Industrial  and  similar  schools 
of  the  present  day,  except  that  all  the  teaching  was 
supplied  gratuitously.  There  were,  at  this  time,  no 
public  schools,  free-schools,  or  Sabbath-schools ;  and 
it  is  easy  to  see  how,  from  the  experience  she  must 
have  had  in  those  week-day  schools,  Mrs.  Bethune's 
conviction  of  the  usefulness  of  schools  on  the  Sab- 
bath was  greatly  strengthened,  although  her  home- 
cares  as  a  young  mother,  increased  by  her  delicate 
health,  did  not  permit  her  to  engage  as  entirely  as 
her  inclination  would  otherwise  have  led  her  to  do. 


92  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

Mrs.  Graham,  since  the  removal  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Andrew  Smith  (her  third  daughter)  to  Virginia  in 
1803,  had  consented  to  reside  permanently  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bethune.  This  brought  the  three  benevo- 
lent spirits  into  constant  and  close  communion,  the 
results  of  which  pious  alliance  have  been  seen  in  sev- 
eral important  enterprises.  Mrs.  Graham's  personal 
individual  exertions  for  religion  and  charity  are  re- 
lated in  her  Life,  prepared  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bethune 
conjointly,  and  pubHshed  after  her  death,  a  more  full 
and  carefully  corrected  edition  of  which  was  arranged, 
with  the  addition  of  much  matter  not  in  the  first  edi- 
tion, the  copyright  of  which  was  presented  to  the 
American  Tract  Society,  and  it  was  published  by 
them  with  her  full  and  entire  approval  and  authenti- 
cation. 


THE   ORPHAN   ASYLUM.  93 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE   ORPHAN   ASYLUM. 

Mrs.  Bethime's  Plans. — Life  of  Francke.  —  Mrs.  Hoffman. — Mr. 
Bethune's  Address.  —  Public  Meeting. — Society  formed. — The 
Fundamental  Principle. — Power  of  Faith. — The  first  Home. — 
Larger  Accommodations. — The  Asylum  at  Bloomingdale. — Mrs. 
Bethune's  Agency,  Service,  and  Resignation.  —  Action  of  the 
Board  of  Managers. 

The  story  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bethune's  large  and  in- 
telligent philanthropy  can  not  here  be  told ;  but,  as 
each  was  individually  active,  their  union  rendered 
their  usefulness  vastly  more  than  trebly  efficient  un- 
der the  Divine  blessing.  Their  evenings  were  spent 
in  constructing  and  maturing  plans  for  doing  good ; 
all  the  leisure  of  their  days  in  executing  them.  The 
three  discussed  among  themselves  the  question  how 
the  children  of  the  deceased  widows  should  be  pro- 
vided for,  as  the  Widows'  Society  were  not  to  be  al- 
lowed to  do  any  thing  for  them,  though  many  were 
left  without  any  means  of  support. 

About  this  time  a  copy  of  a  Life  of  Francke,  with 
a  history  of  his  Orphan  House  at  Halle,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  Mrs.  Bethune.  It  became  a  study  for  the 
three  around  their  fireside,  and  was  regarded  as  a 
means  used  by  Providence  to  assist  them  in  their  be- 
nevolent difficulty.     ''I  will  remain  with  the  wid- 


94  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

ows,"  said  Mrs.  Graham ;  ''  but  you,  mj  dear  Joanna, 
are  younger;  do  you  leave  the  active  direction  of 
the  Widows'  Society,  and  devote  yourself  to  your 
heavenly  Father's  children,  the  fatherless  and  the 
motherless."  After  careful  and  not  hasty  delibera- 
tion, their  pious  friends  were  called  into  council,  es- 
pecially Mrs.  Sarah  Hoffman,  whose  excellent  judg- 
ment, strengthened  by  much  experience  in  charity, 
and  commanding  social  position,  rendered  it  peculiar- 
ly desirable  that  the  movement  should  be  made  un- 
der her  auspices ;  and  it  was  determined  that  an  ap- 
peal should  be  made  to  the  benevolent  public  of  New 
York  for  the  means  and  agencies  necessary  to  the 
founding  of  an  Orphan  Asylum,  which  should  receive 
under  its  protecting  roof  all  legitimate  children  left 
orphans  by  the  death  of  both  parents.  Mr.  Bethune 
was  requested  to  write  a  call  for  a  public  meeting  of 
ladies  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  such  an  institu- 
tion, which  was  published  in  the  spring  of  1806. 

"The  helpless  condition  of  orphan  children  has 
often  awakened  the  compassion  of  every  feeling  heart. 
The  exertions  of  the  Ladies'  Society  [for  the  Belief 
of  Widows  with  Small  Children]  provided,  in  a  great 
measure,  for  the  children  of  widows ;  but  there  ex- 
ists, at  present,  no  society  whose  peculiar  province  it 
is  to  rescue  from  want,  from  danger,  and  from  misery 
the  orphan  child.  It  is  therefore  proposed  to  es- 
tablish a  female  society  to  provide  an  asylum  for  or- 
phan children ;  and,  as  the  funds  of  such  an  institu- 
tion must  come  from  the  generosity  of  a  benevolent 


THE   ORPHAN   ASYLUM.  95 

public,  annual  subscriptions  are  respectfully  solicited 
from  both  ladies  and  gentlemen.  As  soon  as  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  female  subscribers  are  procured,  a 
general  meeting  will  be  called  to  form  a  Constitution 
and  make  other  requisite  arrangements. 

"  '  The  friendless  babe,  whom  want  alarms, 
Cast  on  life's  desert  wild. 
To  you  extends  its  feeble  arms — 
Oh,  save  the  orphan  child.'  " 

Accordingly,  on  the  15th  of  March,  1806,  a  public 
meeting  was  held  at  the  City  Hotel  (then  occupying 
the  block  on  the  west  side  of  Broadway,  between 
Thames  and  Cedar  Streets),  and  the  New  York  Or- 
phan Asylum  Society  was  organized,  Mrs.  Sarah 
Hoffman  being  chosen  First  Directress,  Mrs.  General 
Hamilton  Second  Directress,  Mrs.  Bethune  Treasurer 
(Mrs.  Sarah  Startin  some  years  afterward  succeed- 
ing her,  Mrs.  Bethune's  health  at  the  time  not  being 
very  strong),  with  ten  other  influential  ladies,  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

At  the  very  outset  of  their  operations  the  Board 
adopted  as  a' principle  of  their  management  that,  re- 
lying upon  God's  own  promise  to  be  "the  Father  of 
the  fatherless,"  they  would  never  refuse  an  orphan 
child  brought  to  them  for  protection,  whether  they 
had  a  dollar  in  the  treasury  or  not.  From  this  rule 
the  Society,  up  to  this  hour,  has  never  swerved,  nor 
is  it  likely,  after  their  rich  experience  of  the  Divine 
care,  that  they  ever  will.  It  was  always  Mrs.  Be- 
thune's opinion,  as  often  expressed  in  her  con  versa- 


96  MEMOIRS   OF   MKS.  BETHUNE. 

tion  respecting  the  conduct  of  charities,  that  any 
"skimping"  (a  Scotch  term,  having  no  synonym  in 
English),  especially  in  limiting  the  number  of  the 
truly  necessitous  objects,  was  a  species  of  distrust  in 
God ;  and  the  hoarding  or  putting  away  at  interest 
money  for  which  Providence  asked  a  present  use 
was  an  unbelief  more  likely  to  bring  loss  than  secure 
future  advantage.  In  several  cases,  during  the  ear- 
ly years  of  the  Asylum,  children  were  brought  to  its 
door  when  the  funds  were  utterly  expended ;  but 
they  were  gladly  welcomed,  and  soon  means  came  in 
to  supply  their  wants.  So,  in  cases  of  much  larger 
expenditure,  the  only  question  in  the  mind  of  Mrs. 
Bethune  and  her  associates  would  be,  "Is  the  ex- 
penditure actually  necessary  for  the  welfare  and  com- 
fort of  the  orphans  ?"  This  being  decided  in  the  af- 
firmative, the  expense  was  at  once  increased.  Nor 
did  the  Lord  ever  fail  to  answer  the  trust  of  his  hand- 
maiden. I  have  often  heard  my  mother  say  that,  in 
any  time  of  need,  a  few  words  stating  that  the  funds 
of  the  Society  needed  replenishing,  thrown  into  a 
newspaper,  was  sure  to  bring  in  donations  equal  to 
the  need ;  more  frequently,  the  money  came  in  be- 
fore the  appeal  was  made. 

The  ladies  began  their  asylum  in  a  hired  two-sto- 
ried frame  house  in  the  village  of  Greenwich  (then 
the  upper  part  of  New  York  City),  where  a  few  chil- 
dren were  carefully  sheltered  and  instructed,  under 
the  watch  of  a  competent  matron.  It  soon  became 
manifest  that  much  larger  accommodations  should  be 


THE   ORPHAN   ASYLUM.  97 

provided  for  their  proposed  charges ;  and  the  ladies, 
in  the  courage  of  their  faith,  were  ready  to  follow 
God's  leadings  in  the  emergency.  They  had  begun 
to  accumulate  a  fund  for  building,  but  it  did  not  ex- 
ceed §850.  Notwithstanding,  true  to  their  govern- 
ing principle,  they  at  once  resolved  to  erect  a  suita- 
ble house.  They  contracted  for  a  site  of  liberal  size, 
nearly  an  acre  of  ground,  in  Bank  Street,  not  far  from 
Mr.  Bethune's  place,  giving  ample  space  for  play- 
ground, garden,  and  fresh  air,  on  which  they  put  up 
a  handsome,  though  plain  structure,  fifty  feet  square, 
all  at  a  cost  of  about  $25,000.  Mrs.  Bethune  and 
Mrs.  Startin  managed  the  fiuances  with  great  skill 
and  liberality — Mrs.  Startin  freely  making  advances, 
when  needed,  from  her  own  handsome  means,  and 
Mrs.  Bethune  obtaining  a  pledge  of  her  husband's 
credit  for  thousands  of  dollars  rather  than  the  build- 
ing should  be  delayed.  The  debt  that  remained  at 
its  completion  was  soon  swept  off  by  donations  and 
legacies ;  besides  which,  the  growth  of  the  city  gave 
such  increased  value  to  the  property,  that  the  origin- 
al asylum  was,  in  1840,  replaced  by  a  noble  building 
of  most  extensive  accommodation  on  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson,  at  Bloomingdale,  surrounded  by  ten 
acres  of  ground,  and  the  Society  enriched  by  a  large 
funded  property  from  the  accumulation  of  legacies. 
The  Orphan  Asylum  Society  was  never  so  useful  or 
so  liberally  sustained  as  it  is  now  (1861),  and  there 
can  be  but  little  doubt  of  its  continuing  to  be  a  mon- 
ument of  pious  enterprise,  and  a  fountain  of  charita- 
E 


98  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

ble  goodness,  while  the  great  city  which  has  so  liber- 
ally supported  it  sits  like  a  queen  on  the  waves. 

The  honor  of  originating  the  Orphan  Asylum  has 
been  popularly  given  to  Mrs.  Graham  ;  but  the  facts 
were  as  we  have  stated  them,  and  it  belongs,  at  least, 
equally  to  her  daughter.  They  were  both  at  the  be- 
ginning of  it ;  and,  although  Mrs.  Graham  continued 
in  the  direction  of  the  Widows'  Society,  she  was, 
through  her  daughter,  almost  equally  interested  for 
the  orphans  as  her  daughter  continued  to  be  for  the 
widows.  It  was  a  partnership  in  benevolence  to- 
ward the  two  special  objects  of  Christian  charity, 
"the  widows  and  orphans  in  their  affliction."  In- 
deed, Mrs.  Graham  consented  to  be  elected  a  trustee 
of  the  Orphan  Asylum  in  the  spring  of  1810,  find- 
ing association  with  her  daughter  in  the  Orphan  So- 
ciety more  easy  for  her  advanced  age  than  service, 
separated  from  her,  in  that  of  the  Widows'  Society. 

Mrs.  Bethune  continued  to  serve  as  Trustee  or 
Treasurer  in  the  Orphan  Asylum  until  the  death  of 
her  dear  friend  and  long-loved  associate,  Mrs.  Hoff- 
man, when,  Mrs.  General  Hamilton  being  elected  First 
Directress,  Mrs.  Bethune  was  chosen  to  succeed  Mrs. 
Hamilton  as  Second ;  and,  on  Mrs.  Hamilton's  resig- 
nation of  the  First  Directress-ship,  Mrs.  Bethune  suc- 
ceeded her  venerable  friend  as  the  presiding  officer, 
which  place  she  continued  to  hold  until  May,  1859. 
Long  before  this,  however,  Mrs.  Bethune,  conscious 
of  increasing  infirmities,  had  wished  the  ladies,  her 
associates,  to  relieve  her  of  her  office.     Thus  we  find 


THE   ORPHAN  ASYLUM.  99 

on  the  minutes  of  the  Board,  April,  1851,  the  follow- 
ing letter  from  Mrs.  Bethune,  with  the  expression  of 
the  Board  concerning  it : 

Mrs.  Betliune!s  First  Letter  of  Resignation^  Aj^iril,  1851. 

''  Dear  Ladies, — We  read.  Psalm  xc,  10,  '  The 
days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years  and  ten ;  and 
if,  by  reason  of  strength,  they  be  fourscore  years,  yet 
is  their  strength  labor  and  sorrow,  for  it  is  soon  cut 
off,  and  we  fly  away.'  These  words  of  the  Psalmist 
have  been  constantly  in  my  mind  for  some  time  past, 
but  particularly  since  the  fall  which  I  had  last  sum- 
mer, which  so  enfeebled  my  health  that  my  own 
family  and  my  duties  in  the  Orphan  Asylum  were 
necessarily  neglected.  Another  portion  of  Scripture 
God  impressed  on  my  mind  last  winter:  'Set  thy 
house  in  order,  for  thou  shalt  die  and  not  live.'  The 
above,  with  some  circumstances  which  I  forbear  to 
mention,  have  convinced  me  that  it  is  my  duty  to  re- 
sign my  place  as  First  Directress  of  the  Orphan  Asy- 
lum Society,  a  place  I  have  held  but  a  few  years, 
and  in  which  I  may  not  have  been  so  efficient  as  my 
predecessor  (Mrs.  Hamilton).  I  therefore  beg,  my 
dear  ladies,  that  you  will  accept  my  resignation,  and 
appoint  one  younger  in  years,  and  who  can  have 
more  aid  than  I  have.  I  shall  not  cease  to  pray  for 
your  prosperity;  but,  like  the  children  of  Israel 
banished  from  their  beloved  Jerusalem,  will  say  of 
the  Orphan  Asylum,  'If  I  forget  thee,  let  my  right 
hand  forget  her  cunning !'     But,  dear  ladies,  while  I 


100  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

resign  my  place  as  Directress,  I  still  claim  the  priv- 
ilege of  visiting  and  acting  on  the  School  Commit- 
tee. 

"  The  Orphan  Asylum  was  the  last  place  my  be- 
loved mother  visited,  and  gave  to  the  inmates  relig- 
ious instruction.  A  few  days  after  she  ceased  from 
her  labors  and  entered  her  rest,  thirty-seven  years 
ago.  Her  last  words  to  me  were,  '  My  dear,  you  and 
I  have  long  been  engaged  in  charitable  labors,  and 
have  experienced  how  little  can  be  done  in  reform- 
ing the  old,  and  therefore  I  beg  that  you  will  devote 
yourself  to  the  young.' 

"Kneeling  at  her  coffin,  I  prayed  my  Savior  to 
permit  me  to  give  instruction  to  the  dear  lambs  of 
our  orphan  fold.  Great  has  been  her  reward ;  for 
many,  I  trust,  have  joined  her  in  heaven.  One  of 
our  first  orphans  visited  me  a  few  years  ago,  and  told 
me  that  the  earliest  time  he  could  remember  was 
standing  at  Mrs.  Graham's  knee,  and  repeating  texts 
of  Scripture  after  her,  for  he  was  too  young  to  read. 
That  child  still  lives,  a  highly  respected  minister  of 
the  Gospel  in  this  state. 

"My  ever-to-be-lamented  husband  also  took  a  deep 
interest  in  the  institution,  and  gave  religious  instruc- 
tion to  its  inmates,  chiefly  on  the  Sabbath.  I  rejoice 
that  our  highly  respected  neighbor,  Mr.  Pelatiah  Per- 
it,  now  so  kindly  supplies  his  place.  My  prayer  to^ 
God  is,  that  he  may  long  continue  his  labors  of  love 
after  I  shall  have  entered  into  my  rest,  and  the  hand 
that  now  writes  will  be  mouldering  in  the  grave. 


THE   ORPHAN  ASYLUM.  101 

"I  remain,  dear  ladies,  respectfully  and  affection- 
ately, your  fellow-laborer,  Joanna  Bethune. 

"New  York,  April,  1851." 

The  above  letter  was  received  by  the  Board  with 
great  sorrow ;  and  it  was  "unanimously  resolved  that 
we  can  not  accept  the  resignation  of  our  venerated 
friend,  but  earnestly  request  her  to  continue  at  the 
head  of  the  Board  of  Direction,  and  to  accept  the  as- 
surance of  our  sincere  desire  to  relieve  her  of  care 
and  fatigue  in  any  way  she  may  permit."* 

Subsequently  we  find  another  note  addressed  by 
her  to  the  Board,  the  date  of  which  is  wanting : 

"  My  dear  Ladies, — Considering  my  age  and  in- 
creasing infirmities,  I  can  not  expect  to  be  long  in 
your  Board.  I  have  tendered  my  resignation  sever- 
al times,  but  I  need  not  inform  3''ou  that  it  has  nev- 
er been  accepted. 

"I^ext  to  my  own  family,  the  Orphan  Asylum 
stands  first  in  my  affections ;  indeed,  it  is  never  out 
of  my  mind,  by  day  or  by  night.  I  bless  God  that, 
when  I  am  called  home,  I  shall  leave  it  in  such  pros- 
perous circumstances.  I  need  not  say  that  our  ac- 
commodations are  not  equal  to  the  wants  of  our  large 
family ;  and  that,  such  being  the  case,  I  suggested  the 
necessity  of  adding  a  wing  to  the  building  as  soon 
as  our  means  would  permit,  and  I  thought  that  those 
who  heard  me  approved  of  it.  I  have  also  thought 
that,  some  years  hence,  another  wing  would  be  nec- 
essary.    It  may  be  that  some  of  the  Board  might 

*  Minutes  of  the  Board,  Mav  6th,  1851. 


102  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

think  it  best  to  sell  tlie  property,  and  remove  farther 
from  the  city.  This  to  me,  and  others,  is  not  desira- 
ble. .  .  .  "Where  can  we  find  a  more  suitable  situa- 
tion— so  near  the  city,  and  so  easy  of  access— so  near 
the  Hudson,  and  exhibiting  so  well  our  beautiful 
front  to  the  numerous  passengers  on  the  river?  .  .  ." 

The  Board,  at  their  meeting.  May  26th,  1859, 
-thought  themselves  required,  by  their  duty  to  the  in- 
stitution, to  adopt  the  following  minute : 

"  Mrs.  Bethune  being  prevented,  by  her  removal 
to  Brooklyn  and  by  the  infirmities  of  advanced  age, 
from  engaging  any  longer  in  the  direction  of  the  So- 
ciety, and  the  duties  she  so  much  loved  and  so  faith- 
fully performed  from  its  very  formation,  it  was  re- 
solved that  Mrs.  John  Anthon  be  appointed  First 
Directress,  and  Mrs.  Yan  Home  Second  Directress; 
also,  that  the  name  of  Mrs.  Bethune,  while  living,  be 
always  published  above  the  names  of  the  Board  of 
Direction." 

The  last  time  Mrs.  Bethune  met  with  the  Board 
was  at  the  anniversary  held  in  the  Asylum  at  Bloom- 
ingdale.  May  13tb,  1856,  as  shown  by  the  following 
minute  of  that  date : 

"  Mrs.  Bethune,  the  venerable  First  Directress  and 
surviving  founder  of  the  institution,  was  present. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Bethune  made  the  address." 

This  completed  fifty  years  of  service  rendered  by 
her  to  the  Asylum.  She  attended  the  meetings  of 
the  Board  regularly  up  to  June  of  the  year  before. 
She  never  knew  of  her  ceasing  to  be  in  ofiice. 


THE   ORPHAN  ASYLUM.  103 

The  following  extract  from  the  55th  Annual  Ee- 
port  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  Society  closes  the  record 
of  my  mother's  connection  with  an  institution  which 
shared  more  deeply  her  love  and  care  than  any  oth- 
er. "  My  dear,"  said  she  one  day,  when  playfully  re- 
proaching herself  for  some  slip  of  memory,  "I  be- 
lieve that  I  shall  forget  every  thing  but  the  Orphan 
Asylum ;  that  I  shall  always  remember." 

"  Since  the  last  annual  report  of  this  society,  the 
last  tie  has  been  severed  that  bound  it  to  its  com- 
mencement— a  link  which  extended  through  a  chain 
of  years  from  its  very  foundation  has  been  broken, 
gently  separated,  leaving  the  Board  of  Direction,  as 
it  were,  themselves  orphans — in  the  loss  of  Mrs.  Jo- 
anna Bethune,  the  mother  of  this  institution,  the 
original  proposer  of  its  plan. 

"  Mrs.  Bethune  was,  before  this  society  existed, 
deeply  interested  in  that  which  takes  care  of  widows 
with  young  children ;  and  often,  as  these  poor  wid- 
ows died,  and  left  their  fatherless  and  now  motherless 
little  ones,  her  kind  heart  grieved  that  they  could  no 
longer  receive  from  that  society  the  aid  they  needed 
more  than  ever.  Hence,  by  a  natural  step,  the  foun- 
dation of  the  New  York  Orphan  Asylum,  the  first 
call  for  which  was  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  DiviE  Be- 
thune, at  the  request  of  his  wife  and  her  associates 
in  the  Widows'  Society.  From  this  period  until  ab- 
solutely disabled  by  the  infirmities  of  age,  a  period 
of  little  less  than  fifty  years,  Mrs.  Bethune's  heart 
and  hand,  prayers  and  active  exertions,  were  ever  en- 


104  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

gaged,  successively  as  Trustee,  Treasurer,  Second  Di- 
rectress, and  First  Directress,  in  behalf  of  the  blessed 
work  she  had  undertaken.  She  died  on  the  28th  of 
July,  1860,  at  the  age  of  ninety -two  years;  and  when, 
from  the  bed  of  suffering  and  weariness,  she  woke  in 
the  glory  of  an  immortality  inconceivable  to  mortal 
mind,  we  can  fancy,  amid  the  ecstatic  joy  of  the  first 
moment  of  bliss,  that  one  source  of  delight,  and  not 
the  least,  would  be  the  sight  of  the  many  happy,  glo- 
rified spirits  who,  but  for  her  instrumentality,  might 
'have  languished  here  in  want,  and  died  ignorant  or 
neglectful  of  the  glorious  inheritance  purchased  for 
them  by  their  precious  Savior. 

"  We  dare  not  trust  ourselves  to  lift,  in  imagina-- 
tion,  the  veil  that  separates  us  from  that  unseen 
world ;  it  would  make  us  so  envy  her,  so  long  to  be 
there,  that  we  could  not,  without  repining,  turn  back 
to  earth,  and  its  cares  and  sin.  But  may  such  a  life 
as  hers,  with  the  reward  we  know  she  now  enjoys, 
be  a  spur  to  our  zeal,  and  inspire  us  never  to  weary 
nor  faint,  but  work  on  and  rejoice  that  we  may  bear 
a  humble  part  in  the  great  scheme  of  making  the 
world  happier  and  better." 


MKS.  HOFFMAN  AND  MES.  STARTIN.  105 


CHAPTER  XII. 

MRS.  HOFFMAN   AND   MRS.  STARTIN. 

The  Associates  of  Mrs,  Bethune. — Mrs.  Hoffman  and  Mrs.  Startin. 
— Their  Character  and  Services. — Testimonies  of  the  Board. 

It  is  to  be  lamented  that  so  little  has  been  pre- 
served of  the  excellent  women  who  were  associated 
with  Mrs.  Bethune  in  the  foundation  and  early  prog- 
ress of  the  Orphan  Asylum.  The  writer  has  taken 
great  pains  to  discover  whatever  remains  concerning 
them  on  record  or  in  the  memory  of  the  people,  but 
he  has  not  been  as  successful  as  he  desired  and  hoped. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Hoffman  was  the  contemporary  rather 
of  Mrs.  Graham  than  of  her  daughter,  but  Mrs.  Be- 
thune held  her  in  that  respect  and  veneration  which 
her  strong  mind,  benevolent  character,  and  dignified 
carriage  were  so  well  calculated  to  inspire ;  and  that 
this  regard  was  not  unreciprocated  is  seen  in  the  fact 
that  Mrs.  Hoffman  preferred  to  resign  her  directress- 
ship  of  the  older  society  to  preside  over  the  Orphan 
Asylum  Board,  which  was  more  especially  the  enter- 
prise of  her  younger  friend.  Unless  she  had  done  so, 
Mrs.  Bethune  would  not  have  had  the  same  courage 
for  the  untried  work ;  but  Mrs.  Hoffman's  name  was 
as  a  tower  of  strength,  so  high  was  her  moral  and  in- 
tellectual position  in  the  best  society  of  Xew  York  at 
E2 


106  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

that  time.  There  is  an  affectionate  tribute  to  her 
memory  in  the  Life  of  Mrs.  Graham  (p.  167,  Ameri- 
can Tract  Society's  edition),  written  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bethune.  Mrs.  Graham  "  and  her  venerable  compan- 
ion, Mrs.  Sarah  Hoffman,  Second  Directress  of  the 
Widows'  Society,  traveled  many  a  day,  and  took 
many  a  step  together  in  the  walks  of  charity.  Mrs. 
Graham  was  a  Presbyterian,  Mrs.  Hoffman  an  Epis- 
copalian. Those  barriers  of  which  such  an  unhappy 
use  has  been  made  by  sectarians  to  separate  children 
of  God  fell  down  between  these  two  friends  at  the 
cry  of  affliction,  and  were  consumed  on  the  altar  of 
Christian  love.  Arm  in  arm,  and  heart  to  heart,  they 
visited  the  abodes  of  distress,  dispensing  temporal 
aid  from  the  purse  of  charity,  and  spiritual  comfort 
from  the  Word  of  God."  Mrs.  Hoffman  continued 
her  active  superintendence  of  the  affairs  of  the  socie- 
ty until  1817,  after  which  her  age  and  infirmities  for- 
bade her  to  continue  her  much-loved  employment, 
and  her  attendance  at  the  meetings  of  the  Board  al- 
most entirely  ceased,  though  it  was  not  until  August, 
1821,  that  her  spirit  returned  to  God.  Mrs.  Hoffman 
recommended  to  the  ladies  the  election  of  Mrs.  Star- 
tin  as  her  successor.  Mrs.  Startin  was  accordingly 
elected,  but  declined  in  favor  of  Mrs.  Hamilton,  who, 
every  way  fitted  for  the  responsible  office,  was,  as  the 
second  directress,  from  the  beginning  the  one  to  whom, 
in  the  judgment  of  the  Board,  the  honor  was  due. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  Orphan  Asylum,  August  7,  1821 : 


MRS.  HOFFMAN  AND   MRS.  STARTIN.  107 

"It  becomes  the  duty  of  the  Board  this  day  to  re- 
cord the  decease  of  their  late  beloved  and  very  ven- 
erable directress,  Mrs.  Sarah  Hoffman.  Eminent 
in  the  discharge  of  her  relative  duties,  in  humble 
hope  and  ardent  faith,  and  in  all  the  walks  of  useful- 
ness appropriate  to  the  children  of  God,  she  was  par- 
ticularly distinguished  by  her  early,  persevering,  af- 
fectionate, and  successful  exertions  in  the  cause  of  the 
orphan,  in  the  establishment  of  the  society  and  of  the 
asylum  which  now  affords  support  and  protection  to 
so  large  a  number  of  otherwise  friendless  children. 

"  For  many  years  she  was  associated  with  another 
benevolent  member  of  this  Board,  whose  death  was 
formerly  recorded,  Mrs.  Isabella  Graham,  in  the  care 
of  the  widow  and  the  fatherless ;  and  in  later  years, 
with  the  lamented  Secretary  of  this  Board,  Miss  Isa- 
bella W.  Ogden,  called  away  in  the  vigor  of  youth. 

"  As  they  had  remembered  the  commandments  of 
their  God  in  life,  so  their  God  remembered  their  souls 
at  the  hour  of  death,  enabling  them  to  triumph  over 
all  its  terrors,  in  the  blissful  hope  of  eternal  life ;  and 
that  dark  valley,  from  which  human  nature,  destitute 
of  religion,  shrinks  back  with  horror,  they  entered 
with  a  cheerful  composure,  beholding  a  ray  of  heav- 
enly light,  leading  them  on  to  the  regions  of  immor- 
tal glory.  The  smile  of  Him  who  was  wounded  for 
their  sins  and  bruised  for  their  iniquities,  that  He 
might  become  their  Eedeemer,  evidently  shone  on 
their  departing  spirits.  '  The  Eternal  God  was  their 
refuge,  and  underneath  them  the  everlasting  arms.' 
'  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.' " 


108  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETHUKE. 

Mrs.  IIofFman  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  David  Og- 
den,  of  Newark,  N.  J.  Her  brothers  were  Nicholas, 
Abraham,  Isaac,  Samuel,  and  Peter  Ogden.  She  mar- 
ried Mr.  Nicholas  Hoffman,  by  whom  she  had  two 
sons,  Josiah  Ogden,  afterward  Judge  Hoffman,  and 
Martin  Hoffman,  with  whom  she  resided  after  her 
husband's  death,  in  Broadway,  near  Amity  Street. 
Mr.  Ogden  Hoffman's  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Golden, 
and  it  was  at  her  house,  in  Wall  Street,  that  Mrs.  Sa- 
rah Hoffman  and  Mrs.  Graham  met  to  organize  an  as- 
sociation of  young  ladies  for  teaching  schools  among 
the  poor,  as  recorded  by  Mrs.  Graham,  1804. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Startin  was  one  of  those  on  whom,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  institution  in  1806,  the  asylum, 
rested.  Elected  a  member  of  the  first  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, she  contributed  her  wisdom,  faith,  and  courage 
during  the  difficulties  of  organizing  the  charity  and 
bringing  it  before  the  Christian  community  for  sup- 
port. Mrs.  Startin  was  the  widow  of  an  eminent  En- 
glish merchant,  so  holding  a  high  place  in  society; 
and  the  estimation  in  which  she  was  held  as  an  intel- 
ligent, consistent  Christian,  enabled  her  to  commend 
it  effectually  to  the  patronage  of  the  best  as  well  as 
the  most  influential  people  in  the  city,  and  thus  con- 
tributed to  make  broad  the  foundations  of  its  future 
great  prosperity.  At  the  first  Mrs.  Bethune  cheer- 
fully undertook  the  ofiice  of  Treasurer,  but  her  feeble 
licalth,  with  the  cares  of  her  family,  compelled  her  to 
resign  it  at  the  end  of  two  years,  when  (1809)  Mrs. 
Startin  was  chosen  to  succeed  her,  and  continued  to 


MRS.  HOFFMAN  AND   MES.  STARTIN.  109 

serve  until  1821.     We  find  the  following  minute  in 
tlie  records  of  the  Board  in  April  of  that  year : 

"  One  circumstance  is  attended  with  painful  interest 
to  the  Board — the  resignation  of  their  respected  Treas- 
urer. Deep  are  their  feelings  of  gratitude  and  affec- 
tion on  recurring  to  the  services  of  their  beloved 
friend.  At  the  origin  of  the  society,  when  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  object  seemed  almost  to  appall  the  firm- 
est mind — when  a  building  was  to  be  erected,  and 
there  were  no  resources — their  benevolent  coadjutor 
became  personally  responsible  for  large  amounts  of 
money,  which  enabled  them  to  complete  a  commodi- 
ous and  well-finished  house.  The  prudence  and  econ- 
omy she  has  ever  manifested  in  discharging  her  office 
inspired  implicit  confidence  in  her  judgment  and 
discretion.  Many  a  child  of  affliction  can  bear  testi- 
mony to  the  maternal  kindness  with  which  she  glad- 
dened the  heart  of  the  orphan.  Her  counsels  will  al- 
w-ays  be  cherished  as  the  result  of  mature  and  consci- 
entious reflection.  The  Board  earnestly  hope  that, 
although  she  declines  the  arduous  office  of  treasurer, 
she  will  not  resign  her  situation  as  trustee,  but  will 
continue  to  animate  and  encourage  them  by  her  coun- 
tenance and  advice.  In  the  retirement  of  domestic 
life,  long  may  she  enjoy  the  consolations  which  flow 
from  the  reflections  of  a  well-spent  life !  Long  may 
she  be  spared  to  her  friends  and  associates  as  their 
example,  to  render  the  various  talents  of  wealth,  of 
influence,  and  of  leisure  conducive  to  the  end  for 
which  they  were  given  !" 


110  MEMOIRS   OF   MRS.  BETIIUNE. 

The  following  is  found  in  the  Annual  Eeport  for 
1822: 

"Since  the  last  annual  meeting  the  Board  have 
been  bereaved  of  their  First  Directress  (Mrs.  Hoff- 
man) and  late  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Startin,  to  whom  they 
were  accustomed  to  look  for  counsel  and  assistance 
in  every  season  of  discouragement  and  doubt.  In 
reflecting  on  the  characters  of  their  venerable  asso- 
ciates, whose  loss  we  now  lament,  we  admire  the 
bright  example  they  afforded  of  active  benevolence, 
and  a  piety  steadfast  as  it  was  sincere,  which  warmed 
while  it  elevated  the  heart,  and  shone  with  great  and 
greater  lustre  unto  the  perfect  day.  The  memory 
of  these  ladies  is  deeply  engraven  on  the  hearts  of 
the  Board  as  they  recollect  the  spirit  of  charity  which 
pervaded  their  intercourse  in  life,  and  their  unwea- 
ried diligence  in  accomplishing  the  plan  of  this  Or- 
phan Asylum,  and  rejoice  to  know  that  on  them  has 
descended  'the  blessing  of  many  ready  to  perish.'" 


MKS.  GENEIiAL   HAMILTON.  Ill 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

MRS.  GENERAL   HAMILTON. 

Mrs.  Hamilton  and  Mrs.  Bethune  compared. — Their  Attachment. — 
Mrs.  Hamilton's  Parentage. — Early  Life. — Married  Life. — Death 
of  Alexander  Hamilton. — Mrs.  Hamilton  in  Social  Life. — In  New 
York  and  Washington. — Her  declining  Years. — Death  and  Bur- 
ial. 

But  the  fellow- worker  with  whom  Mrs.  Bethune 
was  the  longest  and  most  intimately  associated,  and 
whom  she  loved  best,  while  she  loved  all,  was  Mrs. 
General  Hamilton.  My  mother's  regard  and  esteem 
for  this  venerable  lady  continually  increased.  Both 
were  of  determined  disposition,  neither  ready  to  yield 
to  the  other  when  they  differed,  as  they  sometimes 
did,  about  any  matter  of  policy.  Mrs.  Bethune  was 
the  more  cautious,  Mrs.  Hamilton  the  more  impuls- 
ive, so  that  occasions  of  earnest  dispute  did  occur; 
but  it  was  charming  to  see  how  affectionately  these 
temporary  altercations  soon  terminated  in  mutual 
embraces,  and  their  love  deepened  into  stronger  con- 
fidences. Inheriting  a  fond  respect  for  my  mother's 
beloved  and  loving  friend,  I  shall  indulge  myself  with 
a  brief  sketch  of  her  life  and  character. 

Elizabeth  Schuyler  was  the  second  daughter  of 
General  Philip  Schuyler  and  Catharine  Yan  Rensse- 
laer.    The  character  of  General  Schuyler  is  historic- 


112  MEMOIRS  OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

al.  The  name  of  Van  Kensselaer  was  distinguished 
for  courage,  kindliness,  and  modest  dignity.  They 
are  among  the  wealthiest  proprietors  of  the  Dutch 
population.  Stephen  Van  Eensselaer,  a  cousin  of 
Mrs.  Hamilton,  and  married  to  her  sister,  was  the 
good  Patroon^  deriving  that  title  from  his  being  the 
owner  of  a  large  manor,  embracing  the  northern  por- 
tion of  Albany  County  and  a  large  jDortion  of  Kens- 
selaer. Mrs.  Hamilton  was  born  at  Albany  on  the 
9th  of  August,  1757.  Her  father's  house  was  the  re- 
sort of  the  most  distinguished  persons  in  what  "Wal- 
pole,  about  this  period,  stjded  "  the  proud  and  opu- 
lent Colony  of  New  York ;"  and,  at  the  opening  of 
the  contest  with  Great  Britain,  there  came  leading 
men  from  distant  colonies  to  hold  conference  with 
General  Schuyler,  whose  sagacity,  energy,  and  noble- 
ness of  spirit  made  him  the  depositary  of  the  most 
sacred  confidences  in  those  councils  which  gave  birth 
to  an  empire.  His  daughter  Elizabeth  thus  entered 
social  life  with  every  advantage  of  position,  and,  in 
the  coterie  which  gathered  around  the  governor's  co- 
lonial court  in  the  city  of  New  York,  was  soon  dis- 
tinguished as  a  belle.  Her  person  was  small  and 
delicately  formed  ;  her  face  agreeable,  and,  animated 
by  her  brilliant  black  eyes,  showing  and  radiating 
the  spirit  and  intelligence  so  fully  exhibited  in  her 
subsequent  life.  ^  The  commotions  beginning  in  1775 
confined  the  family  of  General  Schuyler  to  their  spa- 
cious mansion  in  Albany  during  the  winter,  and,  dur- 
ing the  summer,  to  his  beautiful  country  estate  on 


MRS.  GENERAL   HAMILTON.  113 

the  Hudson,  at  Saratoga  (now  Schuylerville),  near 
the  scene  of  the  battle  of  Saratoga.  The  advance  of 
Burgoyne  drove  the  ladies  of  the  family,  with  the 
whole  female  population  of  the  region,  flying  from 
the  savages  which  that  commander  had  adopted 
among  his  royal  forces.  General  Schuyler  was  ab- 
sent with  the  army  when  his  children  were  thus 
obliged  to  abandon  the  beautiful  and  beloved  home 
of  their  youth ;  but,  in  the  midst  of  their  sore  trial, 
they  manifested  their  father's  blood;  for,  as  the  wheat- 
fields  of  the  wide  domain  were  white  to  the  harvest, 
Mrs.  Hamilton's  eldest  sister  Angelica  (afterward 
Mrs.  John  B.  Church,  of  Angelica,  IST.  Y.),  choosing 
a  moment  when  the  wind  was  high,  with  her  own 
hand  set  fire  to  the  ripe  grain,  that  it  might  not  be 
gathered  for  the  comfort  of  the  enemy.  It  was  only 
a  few  weeks  after  that  General  Burgoyne,  a  prisoner 
with  his  staff,  was  received  into  the  mansion  of  Gen- 
eral Schu3der,  whose  delicate  hospitalities  he  after- 
ward gratefully  acknowledged  from  his  place  in  Par- 
liament. Thus  some  of  the  most  brilliant  British  ar- 
istocracy were  added  to  the  circle  of  which  Elizabeth 
Schuyler  was  the  charming  ornament ;  but  the  ga}^- 
ety  was  short  lived,  as  Albany  soon  became  again  a 
place  of  seclusion,  whose  quiet  was  disturbed  only 
by  the  thunders  of  distant  war,  or  the  nearer  alarms 
of  savage  enemies.  The  third  year  after  this.  Gener- 
al Schuyler,  called,  at  the  urgent  instance  of  Wash- 
ington, to  aid  the  vigorous  efforts  then  making  for 
the  revival  of  his  reduced  and  gallant  army,  repaired 


114  MEMOIRS   OF  MRS.  BETHUNE. 

to  the  head-quarters  of  his  chief,  then  at  Morristown, 
N.  J.,  where  Mrs.  Schuyler  and  his  daughter  accom- 
panied him.  Alexander,  then  Colonel  Hamilton,  and 
confidential  aid  to  the  great  chief,  was  soon  fascinated 
by  the  brilliant  graces  of  the  daughter,  who,  not  less 
pleased  by  the  fascinating  manners  of  the  distinguish- 
ed young  soldier,  yielded  to  his  addresses,  and  they 
were  soon  married,  remaining  some  time  in  camp, 
until  circumstances  favored  her  removal  to  Albany, 
while  Colonel  Hamilton  pursued  his  gallant  duties  in 
the  march  to  Yorktown  ;  and  his  letters  to  his  young 
bride  speak  beautifully  of  his  affections  and  his  pa- 
triotic valor.  The  surrender  of  Cornwallis  soon  fol- 
lowed ;  and,  on  the  cessation  of  warlike  operations, 
Colonel  Hamilton  repaired  to  Albany,  where  his  wife 
and  their  new-born  child  welcomed  him  to  repose. 
Here  Hamilton  pursued  the  study  of  law,  and  was 
admitted  to  practice.  About  this  time,  as  Continent- 
al Eeceiver,  he  attended  the  Legislature  of  New  York 
at  Poughkeepsie,  and  drafted  the  first  legislative  res- 
olutions that  were  framed  recommending  a  Conven- 
tion to  provide  a  national  Constitution  for  the  United 
States — the  embodiment  of  a  thought  which  his  great 
mind  had  conceived  and  zealously  nourished  for  some 
time  previously.  Soon  after,  we  find  him  as  a  rep- 
resentative of  New  York  in  Congress,  a  leading  par- 
ticipant in  the  most  important  preparatory  measures 
for  the  establishment  of  the  present  government. 

After  the  peace  General  Hamilton  removed  with 
his  family  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  soon 


MES.  GENERAL   HAMILTON.  115 

rose  to  the  liighest  place  at  tlie  bar,  while,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  New  York  Legislature,  and  delegate  to  the 
Convention  which  framed  the  Federal  Constitution, 
as  well  as  to  that  which  adopted  it,  his  civic  fame  be- 
came as  great  as  his  military  glory.  Thus,  when  the 
government  was  organized,  he  took  the  highest  posi- 
tion in  the  country,  next  to  that  of  Washington,  as 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  During  these  absorbing 
public  engagements,  Mrs.  Ilamilton  assumed  the  cares 
of  their  increased  family,  and  presided  over  the  hos- 
pitalities of  their  home,  whose  attractions  rendered  it 
the  centre  of  a  circle  distinguished  by  the  society 
of  the  most  eminent  persons,  native  born  and  from 
abroad,  then  residing  at  the  seat  of  government.  Aft- 
er resigning  his  place  in  the  cabinet,  Hamilton  re- 
sumed his  professional  career  in  New  York  (1795), 
where  he  resided  until  his  melancholy  death.  His 
house  was  the  scene  of  most  refined  and  generous  hos- 
pitality, whether  in  town  or  at  his  summer  residence 
on  Harlem  Heights,  which  afforded  him  and  Mrs. 
Hamilton  opportunities  for  cultivating  those  elegant 
tastes  in  rural  pleasures  which  had  been  the  delight 
of  her  early  youth  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  in 
beautiful  Saratoga. 

The  religious  thankfulness  with  which  she  enjoyed 
these  bountiful  dispensations  of  Providence  called 
into  vigorous  life  the  principles  of  piety  which  had 
directed  her  education  under  her  father's  care,  and 
were  preparing  her  for  the  deep  sorrows  of  her  later 
life.     The  admonition  of  her  dying  husband,  the  vie- 


116  me:m:oirs  of  mrs.  bethune. 

tim  of  a  political  murder,  most  lamentable  and  ex- 
ecrable, "Kemember,  Eliza,  you  are  a  Christian!" 
showed  his  confidence  in  her  faith,  as  well  as  his  own 
recognition  of  its  Divine  source.  Deeply  did  she  need 
its  upholding  consolations.  Her  eldest  son  had  al- 
ready fallen  a  victim  to  a  similar  bloodthirsty  vio- 
lence when  her  great  sorrow  came ;  and  a  beloved 
daughter,  losing  her  reason  amid  the  sudden  horrors 
of  her  father's  death,  became  the  sad  charge  of  her 
bleeding  heart. 

Mrs.  Hamilton  bore  her  calamities  with  fortitude 
and  resignation,  but  sought  her  subsequent  enjoy- 
ments for  this  world  in  the  offices  of  a  religious  life 
and  a  most  active  charity,  which  she  continued  to 
practice  up  to  the  very  close  of  her  unusually  pro- 
tracted life,  in  her  ninety -seventh  year.  She  retained 
both  her  mental  and  physical  faculties  to  the  last; 
and  when  at  Washington,  during  her  latest  years,  for 
the  prosecution  of  her  honorable  claims  on  the  gen- 
eral government,  she  was  the  object  of  the  utmost  ven- 
eration and  affectionate  wonder  to  all  those  who  de- 
lighted to  throng  her  modest  dwelling,  and  hear  from 
her  eloquent,  truthful  lips,  narratives  of  the  times  of 
which  she  was  a  part  and  an  ornament. 

Such  was  Mrs.  Bethune's  especial  friend  and  long- 
est loved  associate  in  the  rearing,  establishing,  and 
perpetuating  the  New  York  Orphan  Asylum.  Mrs. 
Hamilton  continued  to  be  the  First  Directress  of  the 
society  until  her  removal  to  "Washington,  a  few  years 
before  her  death,  when  she  was  succeeded  by  Mrs. 


MRS.  GENERAL  HAMILTON.  117 

Bethune.  According  to  her  dying  request,  Mrs.  Ham- 
ilton's remains  lie  buried  in  Trinity  Church -yard,  near 
the  tomb  built  for  her  illustrious  husband  by  the  So- 
ciety of  Cincinnati,  whose  President  General  (after 
Washington)  he  was.  Among  the  most  sincere  and 
affectionate  mourners  at  her  funeral  was  my  beloved 
mother. 

The  Eev.  Dr.  Weston  (St.  Paul's,  New  York),  at 
the  request  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  Board,  prepared  a 
sermon  eloquently  commemorative  of  her  many  vir- 
tues and  pious  services,  to  be  preached  in  the  chapel 
of  the  institution,  but  was  prevented  by  illness  from 
delivering  it. 


118  MEMOIRS  OF  MRS.  BETHUNE, 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

THE  SUM  OF  HER  LABORS,  AND  HER  REST. 

Review. — Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bethune's  Plans. — Visit  of  Missionaries. — 
Church  Relations.  —  Sunday-schools.  —  Economical  School.  — 
House  of  Industry. — Instruction  of  the  Young. — Mrs.  Bethune's 
Death. 

[The  closing  chapter  of  this  memoir  is  taken  from 
a  sketch  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bethune  prepared  and 
pubHshed  immediately  after  the  death  of  his  mother. 
He  left  the  biography  unfinished ;  and,  in  order  to 
complete  it  in  his  words,  this  sketch  is  here  inserted, 
though  it  repeats  some  facts  already  mentioned. — 
Editor.'] 

Before  the  year  1807  Mr.  Bethune  and  his  very 
intimate  friend,  Mr.  Robert  Ralston,  of  Philadelphia, 
sympathizing  in  larger  missionary  views  than  those 
generally  entertained  in  this  country  at  that  time, 
had  made  themselves  Foreign  Directors  of  the  Lon- 
don Missionary  Society,  the  only  two  such  in  the 
United  States.  In  1807,  that  society  sent  to  this 
country  (to  avoid  French  cruisers),  on  his  way  to 
China,  the  Rev.  Mr.  (afterward  Dr.)  Morrison,  the 
translator  of  the  Bible  into  Chinese,  and  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Gordon  and  Lee,  on  their  way  to  India. 
These  brethren,  while  waiting  for  a  vessel,  spent  the 
greater  part  of  their  time  in  Mr.  Bethune's  family, 


THE  SUM  OF  HER  LABORS,  AND  HER  REST.  119 

with  great  spiritual  advantage,  as  tliey  afterward  tes- 
tified; and  animated  the  pious  three,  Mrs.  Graham, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bethune,  with  yet  more  ardent  desires 
for  promoting  the  Divine  glory. 

There  was  also  another  missionary  who,  for  simi- 
lar reasons,  came  to  this  country,  on  his  way  to  In- 
dia, and  was  intimate  with  the  Bethune  family — the 
Rev.  Mr.  May,  of  whom  the  writer  can  ascertain  no 
more  than  that  he  was  eminently  distinguished  by 
his  love  for  children,  whom  he  delighted  to  address, 
and  by  whom  he  was  attended  in  large  numbers. 
Mrs.  Bethune  used  to  express  herself  as  having  been 
greatly  interested  by  Mr.  May's  efforts;  and,  from 
her  own  sayings,  there  is  no  doubt  that  her  zeal  for 
an  instrumentality  like  the  Sabbath-school  was  much 
increased.  For  several  j^ears  after  this  Mrs.  Bethune 
suffered  much  from  ill  health,  but  continued  to  main- 
tain her  charitable  and  religious  engagements  with 
great  success ;  and,  about  the  time  when  Dr.  Mason 
removed  his  ministry  to  the  new  church  built  for 
him  in  Murray  Street,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bethune  and 
Mrs.  Graham  transferred  their  Church- membership 
to  the  Cedar  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  then  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Romeyn ;  and  of 
that  church  (after  some  intermediate  changes,  ren- 
dered necessary  by  changes  in  the  city)  Mrs.  Be- 
thune was  a  communicant  at  the  time  of  her  death, 
the  attachment  between  her  and  her  beloved  pastor. 
Dr.  James  W.  Alexander,  having  been  of  the  most 
tender  description. 


120  MEMOIES  OF   MRS.  BETHUNE. 

.   About  the  year  1812  (the  precise  date  can  not  now 
be  given),  the  attention  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bethune  was 
called  to  the  blessed  effects  of  the  Sunday-school  sys- 
tem established  in  England  by  Kobert  Kaikes.    Their 
pious  correspondents  in  England,  particularly  Ste- 
phen Prust,  Esq.,  of  Bristol,  sent  them  many  reports 
and  documents  illustrating  the  work ;  and  they  en- 
deavored to   awaken   the  Christian  public   to   that 
means  of  usefulness,  but,  for  a  time,  with  little  suc- 
cess.    Pious  people,  and  some  eminent  ministers,  even 
doubted  the  propriety  of  so  occupying  the  Sabbath 
da3^     Mr.  Bethune,  weary  of  dela}^,  at  last  said  to 
Mrs.  Bethune,  "My  dear  wife,  there  is  no  use  in  wait- 
ing for  the  men;  do  you  gather  a  few  ladies  of  differ- 
ent denominations,  and  begin  the  work  yourselves." 
Mrs.  Bethune  had  already  made  encouraging  experi- 
ments in  two  schools — one,  during  the  winter,  near 
her  city  residence,  within  convenient  distance  of  Dr. 
Eomeyn's  church ;  the  other  in  the  basement  of  her 
country-seat,  between  Bank   and  Bethune   Streets, 
Greenwich,  besides  starting  others,  as  she  had  oppor- 
tunity, during  her  summer  travels  in  different  parts 
of  the  country  between  the  Hudson  and  the  Lakes. 
Intent  upon  a  wider  diffusion  of  the  blessing,  she  de- 
termined to  call  a  public  meeting  of  ladies,  of  differ- 
ent denominations,  in  the  Wall  Street  Church,  which 
she  addressed  from  the  clerk's  desk ;  and,  aided  by 
many  noble  women,  among  whom  may  be  noted  Mrs. 
Francis  Hall,  of  the  Methodist,  Mrs.  William  Colgate, 
of  the  Baptist,  and  Miss  Ball,  of  the  Dutch  churches, 


THE  SUM  OF  HER  LABORS,  AXD  HER  REST.  121 

she  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  put  into  successful 
operation  "The  Female  Union  for  the  Promotion  of 
Sabbath -schools,"  which  continued,  by  its  publica- 
tions and  its  schools,  containing  7000  or  8000  chil- 
dren, to  exert  a  large  usefulness,  until  it  was  absorb- 
ed by  the  New  York  branch  of  the  American  Sun- 
day-school Union.  There  had  been  Sunday-schools 
of  various  kinds,  in  various  places,  before  this :  Mrs. 
Graham,  as  early  as  1792,  had  an  adult  Sunday  even- 
ing school  in  Mulberry  Street,  and  Mrs.  Bethune,  in 
subsequent  years,  had  made  several  similar  efforts; 
but  this  may  be  regarded  as  truly  the  first  introduc- 
tion here  of  the  Eaikes'  system,  as  will  be  shown  on 
some  future  occasion,  when  time  is  had  for  proper  re- 
search. 

Mrs.  Bethune  had  a  wise  dread  of  administering 
charity  in  such  a  way  as  might  encourage  pauper- 
ism, and  adopted  fully  the  views  of  economists  like 
Colquhoun  on  Indigence,  Chalmers  on  Civic  Econo- 
my of  Large  Towns.  Of  this  she  gave  convincing 
proofs. 

The  war  of  1812-14  brought  great  distress  on  the 
laboring  classes,  and  the  cry  of  the  needy  roused  Mrs. 
Bethune  to  new  energy  for  their  relief  The  great 
trouble  was  the  scarcity  of  work.  Mrs.  Bethune,  hav- 
ing duly  considered  the  plan,  associated  herself  with 
a  number  of  like-minded  ladies  in  a  society  for  the 
promotion  of  industry.  They  rented  a  large  wooden 
building,  called  The  Economical  School,  then  stand- 
ing on  the  north  side  of  Anthony  (now  Worth)  Street, 

F 


122  M.EMOIllS   OF   MKS.  JiETliU^'E. 

a  sbort  distance  from  Broadway,  west.  Here  they 
provided  work  for  iivc  or  six  hundred  women,  until 
the  urgent  necessity  passed  away  with  the  return  of 
peace.  Some  idea  of  the  enterprise  and  business  tal- 
ent with  which  the  institution  was  managed  may  be 
got  from  the  fact  that  they  successfully  competed  for 
and  fulfilled  a  contract  with  government  to  supply  a 
sloop-of-war,  or  a  frigate,  with  all  its  necessary  cloth- 
ing, bed-clothes,  etc.,  etc.  This  House  of  Industry  was 
the  model  on  -which  a  similar  institution  in  Boston, 
and  others  elsewhere,  were  framed.  Mrs.  Bethune, 
some  years  afterward,  endeavored  to  introduce  the 
plan  recommended  by  Chalmers,  of  dividing  the  city 
into  districts,  to  be  visited  with  such  accuracy  that  no 
dwelling  of  the  poor  should  be  neglected.  The  j^lan 
was,  however,  superseded  by  the  system  of  the  Asso- 
ciation for  the  Belief  of  the  Poor,  since  then  so  no- 
bly carried  out. 

Mrs.  Bethune's  greatest  delight  was  in  the  educa- 
tion of  the  young.  She  loved  education  as  a  science 
as  well  as  a  charity.  Hence  she  was  always  person- 
ally attentive  to  that  department  of  the  Orphan  Asy- 
lum, and  taught  her  Sabbath  class  until  she  had  long 
passed  her  eightieth  year.  It  is  not  surprising,  there- 
fore, that  the  infant-school  system,  as  organized  by 
Wilderspin,  on  the  basis  of  Festal ozzi's  plan  of  devel- 
opment, should  have  deeply  interested  her.  On  re- 
ceiving the  necessary  books  from  England  and  Switz- 
erland, she  succeeded.  May  23d,  1827,  in  establishing 
a  society  for  advancing  that  method  of  instruction, 


THE   SUM   OF   HER   LABOKS,  AND   HEIl   REST.    123 

aided  by  tbc  late  able  pliilanthropist,  John  Griscom, 
and  also  by  Mr.  S.  W.  SetOD,  a  devoted  friend  of 
youth.  Several  schools  (at  least  nine)  were  put  into 
successful  operation,  which  Mi^s.  Bethune  actively  su- 
perintended, and  one  of  them  she  taught  herself,  al- 
most entirely,  in  the  worst  neighborhood  of  the  Five 
Points — this  more  than  thirty  years  ago.  The  infant- 
school  plan  was  soon  adopted  as  supplementary  to  the 
larger  classes  in  Sunday-schools,  and  in  the  primaries 
of  our  public  schools,  so  that  the  good  thus  begun 
has  been,  and  will  be,  perpetuated  on  a  more  extend- 
ed scale.  Several  books  of  infant-school  instruction, 
written  and  edited  by  Mrs.  Bethune,  are  still  highly 
prized,  and  must  long  continue  to  help  the  teacher 
and  the  taught. 

So  crowded  with  incident  and  work  was  the  life  of 
Mrs.  Bethune ;  and  none  can  estimate  the  influence 
of  her  devoted  life.  But  a  few  years  since  her  aged, 
hard-worked  brain  showed  symptoms  of  weakness, 
and  she  retired  from  active  pursuits,  to  find  tranquil- 
lity in  the  home  of  her  son,  who  was  permitted  to  re- 
ceive her  last  breath.  The  last  intelligible  sentence 
that  she  uttered  was,  "  All  has  been  done  well !"  She 
sank  to  rest  like  a  little  child  in  its  father's  arms, 
without  a  struggle,  a  sign  of  suffering,  or  complaint, 
closing  her  own  dear  eyes,  and,  by  her  last  voluntary 
muscular  movement,  composing  her  lips  as  she  was 
wont  to  do  when  falling- asleep.  Iler  rest  came  after 
a  long  pilgrimage ;  but  her  works  have  followed  her 
before  the  throne  of  Him  in  whom  alone  she  trusted, 
and  that  rest  is  glorious. 


APPENDIX. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE  PRIVATE  PAPERS,  JOURNALS, 
ETC.,  OF  MRS.  JOANNA  BETHUNE. 


A  DAY  OF  SORROW. 

New  York,  September  21st,  1824. 

September  ISth,  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
it  pleased  an  all-wise  God  to  take  to  Himself  my  be- 
loved husband,  and  to  write  upon  me,  the  happiest 
of  wives,  WIDOW.  To  this  day  I  have  never  been 
able  to  look,  and  often  thought  I  could  not  bear  it; 
yet  the  day  is  come.  The  Lord  has  taken  away  the 
desire  of  my  eyes  with  a  stroke.  Although  I  can 
not  say  that  I  neither  mourn  nor  weep,  nor  that  my 
tears  do  not  run  down,  yet  I  am  enabled  to  kiss  the 
hand  that  smites,  and  to  say,  "  Thy  will  be  done." 
"  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away ; 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord." 

I  desire  to  record  the  goodness  of  God  to  my  dear 
husband,  in  making  all  his  bed  in  his  sickness,  in  plac- 
ing underneath  him  the  everlasting  arms,  in  allow- 
ing him  to  lean  upon  his  Master's  bosom,  and  sweet- 
ly to  fall  asleep  in  Jesus,  without  an  agonizing  strug- 
gle, without  even  the  movement  of  a  muscle,  hand  or 
foot.     And  now  the  conflict  is  past.     His  work  is 


126 

done,  and  well  done,  and  liis  longing  desire  is  satis- 
lied.  "Let  me  go  home.  Let  me  go  to  my  Savior. 
My  race  is  run  ;  my  work  is  done.     Let  me  go." 

And  now,  O  thou  Infinite  Jehovah,  before  whom 
I  have  been  pouring  out  my  soul  by  the  bed  upon 
which  my  beloved  husband  resigned  his  happy  spir- 
it, I  claim  Thy  promise  that  Thou,  my  Maker,  will  be 
my  husband,  and  counsel  and  direct  me  in  every  duty 
before  me.  I  can  no  longer  ask  my  husband,  and  re- 
ceive aid  and  counsel  from  him,  in  every  difficulty, 
as  I  have  done  for  twenty-nine  years ;  but  if  Thou 
lift  upon  me  the  light  of  Thy  countenance,  and  make 
Thy  Word  a  light  to  my  feet  and  a  lamp  to  my  path, 
I  can  not  err.  I  have  now  no  idol  to  draw  off  my 
affections  from  Thee.  My  daughters  find  rest  in  the 
houses  of  their  husbands.  My  son,  if  spared,  will 
settle  in  life;  but  the  widow  will  sit  desolate.  O 
grant,  then,  that  I  may  be  a  widow  indeed.  Lord, 
Thou  knowest  the  difficulties  before  me.  Counsel, 
direct,  and  enable  me  to  perform  them  all  with  a  sin- 
gle eye  to  Thy  glory.  May  I  never  disgrace  Thy 
name,  nor  the  name  of  him  who  is  sleeping  in  the 
dust. 

O  Lord,  while  I  ask  the  forgiveness  of  my  tres- 
passes, enable  me  to  forgive  others  their  trespasses. 
And  now,  Lord,  this  21st  of  September,  1824, 1  sol- 
emnly devote  myself  to  Thee,  in  my  new  character 
of  widow,  and  claim  all  the  promises  to  such  in  Thy 
precious  Bible.  I  desire  to  sit  desolate  as  to  man,  and 
to  be  presented  as  a  chaste  virgin  unto  Thee.     I  de- 


MRS.  BETIIUNE's   WRITINGS.  127 

■sire  to  glorify  Thcc  in  tliis  liot  furnace,  to  see  Thy 
hand  in  my  bereavement.  Henceforth  I  devote  my- 
self to  Thee — soul,  body,  and  estate,  all  that  I  have, 
and  all  that  I  am.  0,  my  covenant  God,  help  me 
to  be  faithful  to  this  dedication ;  and,  as  my  blessed 
love  told  me,  to  live  near  to  God.  He  told  me  I 
idolized  him.  I  feel  I  did.  But  my  idol  Thou  hast 
taken  away ;  my  gourd  Thou  hast  withered.  Lord, 
help  me,  or  I  perish. 

0  Lord,  look  on  the  children  of  Thy  servant  and 
Thy  handmaid.  Sanctify  Jhis  affliction  to  them  and 
to  their  children ;  and,  when  their  father  and  their 
mother  are  sleeping  in  the  dust,  may  they,  as  he  said, 
do  their  parts,  and  all  be  gathered  home  at  last,  where 
all  tears  shall  be  wiped  from  our  eyes,  and  where 
sorrow  and  sighing  shall  forever  flee  away.  Amen. 
Come,  Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly  ! 


Sabbath  evening,  October  Sd,  1824. 

0  Lord,  I  am  indeed  in  a  new  situation.  Accus- 
tomed to  lean  upon  the  kindest,  the  tenderest  of  hus- 
bands, who  provided  for  all  my  wants,  who  felt  for 
all  my  troubles,  who  bore  with  my  weaknesses  and 
faults,  and  who,  I  fear,  occupied  the  place  in  my  heart 
which  Thou  only  ought  to  fill ;  but  now  that  Thou 
hast  cut  down  my  idol,  Thou  hast  withered  my 
gourd,  I  feel  desolate.  I  have  now  not  only  the 
charge  of  managing  property,  and  sworn  that  I  will 
faithfully  fulfill  the  trust  reposed  in  me,  but  I  have 


128  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

a  mercantile  concern  to  attend  to,  being  sole  lieir  and 
sole  executrix,  and  my  beloved  husband  having  left 
no  partner.  Lord,  help  me  in  this  trying  season. 
I  have  had  an  example  before  me,  to  spread  every 
thing  before  the  Lord ;  of  recording  texts  and  prom- 
ises, and  pleading  them  in  faith,  and  looking  for  the 
answer.  I  draw  near  to  Thee,  O  my  God,  in  present 
difficulties.  Thou  knowest  them  all.  I  will  record 
some  Scriptures,  and  leave  them  before  Thee  for  Thy 
answer :  the  cxliii.  Psalm  throughout,  viewing  the 
enemies  mentioned  in  it  as  spiritual  enemies.  Prov., 
iv.,  11, 12, 13 :  Do  Thou  so  to  me,  O  Lord.  O,  do 
Thou  teach  me  the  way  of  wisdom,  and  lead  me  in 
right  paths.  When  I  go,  let  not  my  steps  be  strait-, 
ened;  and  when  I  run,  suffer  me  not  to  stumble. 
May  I  take  fast  hold  of  instruction,  and  keep  her  as 
my  life.  Isaiah,  xli.,  10 :  Fear  not,  for  I  am  with 
thee ;  be  not  dismayed,  for  I  am  thy  God.  I  will 
strengthen  thee,  I  will  help  thee ;  yea,  I  will  uphold 
thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness ;  v.  13  : 
For  I  the  Lord  will  hold  thy  right  hand,  saying  unto 
thee.  Fear  not ;  I  will  help  thee. 


Sabbath,  February  6,  1 825. 

ITeb.,  xi.,  1 :  Now  faith  is  the  substance  of  things 
hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen.  The 
whole  chapter  gives  a  clear  view  of  the  faith  of  the 
believer. 

^}  ^y  gracious  covenant  God,  1  desire,  on  this 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  129 

Thine  own  day,  to  draw  near  to  Thy  throne,  to  take  a 
fresh  hold  of  Thy  covenant  for  myself,  as  Thy  widow- 
ed handmaid,  and  for  my  fatherless  children.  "  Leave 
thy  fatherless  children  upon  Me,  and  I  will  preserve 
them  alive,"  was  the  promise  Thou  didst  enable  Thine 
aged  handmaid  to  lay  hold  of  and  plead  through  a 
long  life.  Thou  didst  graciously  hear  and  answer 
her  prayer  for  her  seed  and  her  seed's  seed,  and  Thou 
didst  hear  and  answer  the  prayers  of  Thy  dear  serv- 
ant, and  didst  give  him  faith  in  Thy  Word  for  his 
seed.  He  was  permitted  to  see  all  his  children,  I 
trust,  taught  of  God.  And  now  those  two  eminent 
saints  have  finished  their  course,  and  all  their  anxie- 
ties respecting  their  dear  offsprings  are  over,  while 
Thine  unworthy  handmaid,  the  least  of  all  saints,  re- 
mains behind,  to  supply  their  place  to  the  dear  chil- 
dren Thou  didst  give  us.  O  Lord,  now  that  their 
prayers  no  longer  ascend  in  our  behalf,  may  we  be 
quickened  to  greater  diligence  in  praying  for  our- 
selves ! 

And,  O  Lord,  I  would  this  afternoon,  in  an  espe- 
cial manner,  come  to  Thee  in  behalf  of  Thy  young 
servant,  the  son  of  Thine  handmaid.  0  Lord,  I 
thank  Thee  for  restoring  him  to  me  in  health  and 
strength  for  a  short  season.  I  thank  Thee  —  0,  I 
adore  Thee,  for  the  grace  in  which  he  stands.  I 
thank  Thee  that,  in  some  degree,  he  has  been  made 
to  see  the  insufficiency  of  the  pleasures  of  this  world 
to  impart  happiness.  I  thank  Thee  that  Thou  hast 
made  him  willing,  in  a  day  of  Thy  power,  to  turn  his 
F2 


130  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

back  on  tlic  city  of  destruction,  and  to  set  his  face  to- 
ward Zion.  And  I  would  now  earnestly  plead  with 
Thee  that  Thou  wouldst  increase  his  faith,  and  give 
him  more  grace.  O  Lord,  he  has  chosen  the  most 
responsible  of  all  professions — a  profession  which 
Thou  only  canst  fit  him  for.  All  that  man  can  teach 
him  will  only  bewilder,  unless  accompanied  by  the 
teaching  of  Thy  Holy  Spirit.  0,  pour  out  upon  me, 
his  only  parent,  a  spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication  in 
his  behalf,  and  lead  him  to  Thee  in  all  difficulties,  and 
ask  wisdom.  Open  the  eyes  of  his  understanding, 
that  he  may  see  wondrous  things  in  Thy  law.  He  is 
now  beginning  to  prepare  discourses.  Lord,  impress 
upon  his  mind  that  the  great  object  of  his  profession- 
is  to  proclaim  salvation  through  Christ  to  dying  sin- 
ners. May  he  remember  the  dj^ing  words  of  bis  dear 
father,  "  Preach  the  Gospel,  my  son  !  Tell  dying  sin- 
ners of  a  Savior !  Mind  nothing  else ;  it  is  all  folly !" 
Give  him  clear  views  of  doctrine,  particularly  of  faith, 
which  seems  to  puzzle  him.  O  Lord,  for  Thy  name's 
sake — for  the  sake  of  Him  whom  Thou  hearest  al- 
ways— look  upon  my  son,  the  only  son  of  his  mother, 
and  she  a  widow!  Make  him  more  spiritual,  more 
self-denied,  more  devoted  1  Give  him  some  love-to- 
kens that  shall  so  take  hold  of  his  affections  that  he 
shall  have  more  joy  in  serving  Thee,  and  more  hap- 
piness in  waiting  upon  Thee,  than  the  worldling 
"when  his  corn  and  his  wine  abound."  O,  grant 
him  the  grace  of  application  and  perseverance  in 
searching  the  Scriptures;  and  may  he  never  attempt 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  131 

the  duty  without  crying  unto  Thee  for  Thy  Holy 
Spirit  to  guide  him  unto  all  truth.  Give  him  great 
grace ;  and  let  a  double  portion  of  the  same  Spirit 
that  dwelt  in  his  father  rest  upon  him.  Instead  of 
the  father,  do  Thou  now  take  the  son,  and  make  him 
as  eminently  useful  as  a  minister  as  Thou  didst  make 
him  as  an  officer  in  Thy  Church  and  as  a  layman. 
Lord,  as  Thou  hast  commanded,  I  open  my  mouth 
wide,  and  do  Thou  fill  it.  Answer  all  the  prayers 
now  before  Thy  throne  for  this  dear  youth,  and  lay 
him  on  the  minds  of  thy  dear  people.  Lead  them  to 
pray  what  Thou  hast  determined  to  grant,  that  he 
may  be  a  faithful,  humble,  and  able  minister  of  the 
New  Testament. 


March  17,  1825. 

Li  obedience  to  the  command  of  (iod,  and  under  a 
deep  sense  of  my  own  incapacity  to  do  any  thing 
aright  of  mj^self,  I  come  before  God  this  day  to  plead 
with  Him  to  hear  and  answer  my  petitions  for  myself, 
and  my  children,  and  children's  children,  in  the  view 
of  my  approaching  dissolution.  Before  making  my 
will,  I  ask  of  God  the  following  great  flivors : 

O,  my  God !  the  God  of  my  father,  the  God  of 
my  mother,  the  God  of  my  beloved  and  dearest  of 
all  earthly  friends — the  God  of  my  husband — but, 
above  all,  the  God  and  Father  oJf  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  I  come  this  day  to  do  as  Thou  directest ;  to 
set  my  house  in  order,  knowing  that  assuredly  I  shall 


132  MRS.  bethune's  weitixgs. 

die,  and  not  live.  1st.  I  ask  that,  during  the  remain- 
ing years,  months,  weeks,  days,  or  hours  I  may  live, 
I  ma}^,  by  Thy  grace  assisting  me,  walk  before  Thee 
with  a  perfect  heart.  2d.  That  I  may  never  disgrace 
Thy  holy  name,  by  which  I  am  called,  and  that  I 
may  order  all  my  affairs  with  discretion.  8d.  That  I 
may  provide  things  honest  and  of  good  report  in  the 
sight  of  all  men.  4th.  That  I  may  have  a  portion  to 
give  to  the  widow,  the  fatherless,  the  stranger,  the 
sick  and  afflicted;  and,  if  not  too  much  to  ask,  that  I 
may  still  be  permitted  to  aid  in  institutions  laboring 
for  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  and  advancing  the  king- 
dom of  my  dear  Redeemer,  who  has  done  so  much 
for  me  and  mine.  5th.  That  I  may  have  a  measure- 
of  health  while  I  live,  and  be  taken  home  to  the  man- 
sion prepared  for  me  by  my  Lord  and  Savior  when  I 
have  done  the  work  Thou  hast  assigned  me  on  earth. 
If  consistent  with  Thy  holy  will,  that  I  may  not  be 
left  to  be  a  burden  to  myself  and  others.  Neverthe- 
less, not  my  will,  but  Thine  be  done.  I  desire  to  ask 
with  submission.  One  thing  more  I  ask,  and  would 
plead  earnestly  for,  and  ask  my  gracious  Redeemer 
to  intercede  for  me,  that  Thy  sensible  presence  may 
be  with  me  all  the  way  when  passing  through  the 
Valley  of  the  Shadow  of  Death.  0,  may  I  hear  the 
voice  of  Ilim  saying,  ''Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled ; 
ye  believe  in  God,  belfeve  also  in  me.  In  my  Fa- 
ther's house  are  many  mansions ;  if  it  were  not  so,  I 
would  have  told  you.  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you. 
And  if  I  go  and  prepare  a  place  for  you,  I  will  come 


133 

again,  and  receive  you  to  myself;  that  where  I  am, 
there  you  may  be  also."  Grant,  if  consistent  with 
Thy  holy  will,  that  I  may  have  an  easy  transition ; 
that  the  enemy  may  not  have  permission  to  assault 
me ;  and  that,  like  my  dear  mother  and  still  dearer 
husband,  I  may  lean  on  my  Master's  bosom,  and 
sweetly  fall  asleep  in  Jesus.  I  ask  all  these  favors, 
not  for  any  worthiness  in  me,  but  for  the  sake  of 
Him  whom  Thou  hearest  alwaj^s.  Amen.  Come, 
Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly !  And  now.  Lord,  for 
my  children  and  children's  children,  I  ask  that  they 
may  indeed  be  ALL  taught  of  God,  to  the  latest  gen- 
eration. It  is  a  large  boon,  but  Thou  hast  command- 
ed, "  Open  thy  mouth  wide,  and  I  will  fill  it."  Noth- 
ing is  too  hard  for  Thee.  Giving  does  not  impoverish 
Thee,  nor  withholding  make  Thee  rich.  Grant  that 
none  of  them  may  ever  bring  disgrace  upon  their  pro- 
fession. Spare  my  beloved  daughters  to  train  up 
their  children  in  Thy  fear.  May  they  be  help-meets 
to  thy  servants.  And,  O  my  gracious  Father,  look 
on  my  beloved  son,  the  only  son  of  his  mother,  and 
she  a  widow;  the  son  for  whom  his  father  prayed, 
and  whom  he  lent  unto  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  his 
life.  0  grant  him  all  needful  grace.  Open  the  eyes 
of  his  understanding  to  read  the  Scriptures ;  make 
him  a  workman  in  Thy  cause  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed.  May  he  indeed  be  a  chosen  vessel,  whom 
the  Lord  will  send  to  preach  the  Gospel!  Lord, 
grant  that,  when  he  shall  have  a  companion,  she  may 
be  a  King's  daughter.     Choose  Thou  for  him,  gra- 


134  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

cious  God,  one  that  will  be  a  help-meet  for  him,  who 
will  train  up  her  children  to  serve  the  God  of  their 
fathers.  O,  may  the  houses  of  my  beloved  children 
be  Bethels  to  the  Lord !  May  the  morning  and  even- 
ing sacrifice  continually  ascend  from  their  dwellings! 
May  all  my  children,  in  every  generation,  seek  first 
the  kingdom  of  God  and  His  righteousness,-  and  then 
they  have  the  promise  that  all  temporal  blessings  nec- 
essary in  this  life  Thou  wilt  add !  May  the  God  be- 
fore whom  my  fathers  walked,  the  God  before  whom 
your  dear  beloved  fother  w\alked,  and  before  whom 
(oh  how  imperfectly)  your  mother  has  walked — the 
God  which  fed  me  all  my  life  long  unto  this  day — the 
Angel  which  redeemed  me  from  all  evil,  bless  you, 
and  let  His  name,  even  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  be  named  on  you  in  all  your  generations ;  and 
may  you  grow  into  a  multitude  in  the  midst  of  the 
earth !  Of  you  and  of  your  seed  may  it  be  said,  in 
every  age,  in  answer  to  your  father's  prayers,  and 
for  the  sake  of  his  God,  "These  are  they  who  bring 
the  sacrifices  of  praise  into  the  house  of  the  Lord," 
This  was  his  prayer  and  hope  for  you,  and  this  is  my 
prayer  and  hope  for  you  :  "  Eiclies  of  grace  in  the  cov- 
enant of  Jehovah,  more  precious  than  the  mines  of 
Golconda  or  Peru."     Amen  and  amen. 


March  18th,  1825. 
The  birthday  of  my  beloved  son  George,  now  the 
only  son  of  his  mother,  and  she  a  widow.     Oh  the 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  135 

joy  that  tliis  day  twenty  years  was  experienced  by 
his  beloved  father  and  now  desolate  mother  that  a 
man-child  was  born  into  our  family !  His  dear  fa- 
ther, now  in  glory,  prayed  thus  for  him,  after  magni- 
fying the  Lord  for  His  goodness,  to  his  Maker  in  the 
trying  hour :  "  Thou  knowest  that  I  have  all  along 
asked  of  my  God  that,  if  he  gave  us  a  son,  that  he 
might  be  sanctified  from  the  womb,  and  be  made  a 
faithful,  honored,  and  zealous  minister  of  the  ever- 
lasting Gospel.  Lord,  hear  us  in  this  thing."  Then 
follow  the  texts:  1  Samuel,  i.,  27,  28.  This  I  took 
March  l-ith ;  1  Samuel,  i.,  23 ;  Isaiah,  Ixv.,  23,  24: ; 
Jeremiah,  v.,  5.  All  these  promises  he  saw  accom- 
plished. "When  leaving  his  son  at  the  Theological 
Seminary,  oh  how  he  sang  praises  to  God,  exulting- 
ly  saying,  "  He  worships  the  Lord  there."  Many  of 
our  Christian  friends  looked  with  amazement  at  the 
goodness  of  God  toward  our  family,  and  gave  glory 
to  God  in  our  behalf.  "  ISTow  lettest  Thou  Thy  serv- 
ant depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  Thy  sal- 
vation," was  the  language  of  both  our  hearts.  Often, 
when  meditating  on  the  great  happiness  of  our  fami- 
ly (all  our  children  being  now  taught  of  God),  has 
my  heart  been  ready  to  burst  with  gratitude  to  Him 
who  had  now  answered  all  our  prayers.  Alas !  little 
did  I  think  that,  in  less  than  one  year,  this  happy 
dwelling  would  be  filled  with  lamentation  and  woe, 
and  that,  indeed,  thy  faithful  servant  would  depart  in 
peace.  A  very  few  months  I  could  say  I  had  not  a 
wish  unerratificd. 


136 

''Like  Jonah  (well  our  stories  suit), 
I  viewed  my  gourd  well  pleased ; 
Like  him,  I  could  not  see  the  root 
On  which  tlie  worm  had  seized. 

"  But  saw,  at  length,  the  hour  draw  nigh 
(That  hour  I  since  have  known), 
When  he,  my  earthly  joy,  must  die, 
And  I  be  left  alone, 

"Now,  Lord,  I  would  to  Thee  apply, 
On  Thee  alone  depend  ; 
Thou  art,  when  creatures  fail  and  die, 
An  ever-living  friend !" 

Many  are  the  prayers,  before  Thy  throne,  offered 
by  his  dear  grandmother  and  dear,  dear  father.  O 
gracious  God,  answer  them  now ;  now  let  Thy  bless- 
ing descend  upon  him.  They,  perhaps,  are  now  look- 
ing down  upon  the  j^oor  afflicted  widow  weeping  be- 
fore Thee  this  day;  her  heart  bleeding  under  Thy 
stroke,  yet  enabled  to  glorify  Thee  in  the  furnace, 
saying, 

"Sharp  was  my  pain,  and  deep  my  wound — 
A  wound  that  still  must  bleed ; 
But  daily  help  and  strength  I  found. 
Proportioned  to  my  need." 

O  gracious  God,  I  desire  now  to  return  from  the 
world,  to  be  shut  up  with  Thee,  to  plead  Thy  prom- 
ises in  behalf  of  my  beloved  son,  this  day  twenty 
years  old.  I  go  to  Thy  Word  to  search  for  promises 
for  him ;  direct  me  to  them,  O  my  God. 

Psalm  Ixxxi.,  10 :  I  am  the  Lord  which  brought 
thee  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt:  open  thy  mouth  wide, 
and  I  will  fill  it.    Acts,  ii.,  17 :  "  And  it  shall  come  to 


137 

pass  in  the  last  days,  saitli  God,  that  I  will  pour  out 
of  my  Spirit  upon  all  flesh ;  and  your  sons  and  your 
daughters  shall  prophesy ;"  and  verse  21 :  "  And  it 
shall  come  to  pass,  that  whosoever  shall  call  on  the 
name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved."  Acts,  ix.,  15: 
"Go  thy  way;  for  he  is  a  chosen  vessel  unto  me,  to 
bear  my  name  before  the  Gentiles,  and  kings,  and  the 
children  of  Israel."  Isaiah,  Ixiv.,  1:  Oh  that  Thou 
wouldst  rend  the  heavens,  that  Thou  wouldst  come 
down,  that  the  mountains  might  flow  down  at  Thy 
presence ;  verse  4 :  For  since  the  beginning  of  the 
world  men  have  not  heard,  nor  perceived  by  the  ear, 
neither  hath  the  eye  seen,  O  God,  beside  Thee,  what 
He  hath  prepared  for  him  that  waiteth  for  Him. 
Thou  meetest  him  that  rejoiceth  and  worketh  right- 
eousness, those  that  remember  Thee  in  Thy  waj's ; 
verse  6 :  But  we  are  all  as  an  unclean  thing,  and  all 
our  righteousnesses  are  as  filthy  rags ;  and  we  all  do 
fade  as  a  leaf;  and  our  iniquities,  like  the  wind,  have 
carried  us  away ;  verse  8 :  But  now,  O  Lord,  Thou 
art  our  Father;  we  are  the  clay,  and  Thou  our  pot- 
ter ;  and  we  are  all  the  work  of  Thy  hand ;  verse  9 : 
Be  not  wroth  very  sore,  0  Lord,  neither  remember 
iniquity  forever :  behold,  see,  we  are  all  Thy  people. 
Jeremiah,  i.,  5 :  Before  I  formed  thee  in  the  belly 
I  knew  thee,  and  before  thou  camcst  forth  out  of 
the  womb  I  sanctified  thee,  and  I  ordained  thee  a 
prophet  unto  the  nations.  Jeremiah,  xxiv.,  7:  "And 
I  will  give  them  a  heart  to  know  me,  that  I  am  the 
Lord ;  and  they  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be 


138  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

llicir  God ;  for  tlicy  sliall  return  unto  me  witli  their 
whole  heart."  Lord,  fulfill  this  promise  to  our  whole 
flxmily!  1  Peter,  ii.,  5:  "Ye  also,  as  lively  stones, 
are  built  up  a  spiritual  house,  a  holy  priesthood,  to  of- 
fer up  spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable  to  God  by  Jesus 
Christ;"  verse  9:  "But  ye  are  a  chosen  generation, 
a  royal  priesthood,  a  holy  nation,  a  peculiar  people; 
that  ye  shall  show  forth  the  praises  of  Him  who  hath 
called  you  out  of  darkness  into  His  marvelous  light." 
Hebrews,  iv.,  16 ;  v.,  1,  2,  8, 4 ;  vi.,  19  :  "Which  hope 
we  have  as  an  anchjor  of  the  soul,  both  sure  and 
steadfast,  which  entereth  into  that  within  the  vail." 
Joshua,  i.,  9  :  "  Have  not  I  commanded  thee  ?  Be 
strong  and  of  good  courage ;  be  not  afraid,  neither  be 
thou  dismayed ;  for  the  Lord  thy  God  is  with  thee 
whithersoever  thou  goest." 

O  most  gracious  God,  fulfill  the  above  to  my  be- 
loved son.  O  grant  me  faith  to  lay  hold  on  the 
promises  for  him.  Grant  him  faith  to  lay  hold  on 
them  for  himself.  O  may  he  plead  with  Thee,  for 
his  Redqemer's  sake,  for  sanctification ;  and  may  he 
daily  grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
Lord  his  God.  Bless  abundantly,  also,  my  sons-in- 
law  in  their  calling.  Keep  me,  keep  my  sons,  keep 
my  children  and  grandchildren  pure  and  unspotted 
from  the  world. 

"Guide  us,  O  Thou  p-eat  Jehovah, 
Pilgrims  through  this  barren  land  ; 
We  are  weak,  but  Thou  art  mighty ; 
Hold  us  with  thy  powerful  hand. 
Bread  of  Heaven  ^ 
Feed  us  till  we  want  no  more." 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  139 

Amen.     Come,  Lord  Jesus. 

"When  I  tread  the  verge  of  Jordan, 
Bid  our  anxious  fears  subside ; 
Foe  to  death,  and  Hell's  destruction, 
Land  us  safe  on  Canaan's  side. 
Songs  of  praises 
We  will  ever  give  to  Thee." 

Hallelujah !  the  Lord  God  Omnipotent  reigneth. 


May  1st,  1825. 

The  last  night  I  have  to  spend  under  the  roof 
where  my  beloved  husband  poured  out  his  soul  to 
Thee,  O  Lord,  and  where,  in  answer  to  his  prayer, 
he  leaned  upon  his  Master's  bosom  while  passing 
through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  O  look 
down  upon  me  to  strengthen  me,  support  me.  O  go 
with  me,  or  carry  me  not  up  hence.  Enable  me  yet 
to  glorify  Thee ;  make  me  useful  in  the  neighbor- 
hood to  which  I  am  going.  Lord,  pardon  my  un- 
faithfulness to  those  around  me  here.  0  Lord,  when 
I  review  my  past  life,  even  since  I  professed  to  fol- 
low Thee,  my  sins  rise  up  in  frightful  array  before 
me.  Oh,  wert  Thou  to  mark  iniquity,  who  could 
stand !  I  can  not  look  on  a  single  act  of  my  life  that 
was  not  defiled  with  sin ;  and  what  can  I  say  but  the 
prayer  of  the  publican,  "  Lord,  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner !" 

I  this  night  enter  my  record  in  this  book  that,  if  I 
am  saved  from  hell,  and  shall  have  the  unspeakable 
happiness  of  taking  possession  of  a  mansion  prepared 


for  mc  bj  my  dear  Kcdeemer,  it  will  be  all  of  grace, 
free  and  unmerited  grace,  and  not  for  any  filthy  rags 
of  riaibteousness  of  mine. 

o 

*'  Oh  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor 
Daily  I'm  constrained  to  be ; 
Let  that  grace,  Lord,  like  a  fetter, 
Bind  my  wandering  heart  to  Thee." 


September  18,  1825. 
The  anniversary  of  the  departure  of  my  earthly 
joys,  and  the  dismission  of  my  beloved  husband's 
happy  spirit  from  sin  and  sorrow.  One  year  of  hap- 
piness to  him,  and  one  of  sore,  sore  trial  to  me,  his 
bereaved  widow.  What  has  been  my  experience 
through  life  but  "cease  from  man,  whose  breath  is 
in  his  nostrils?"  But  I  knew  not  the  full  import  of 
the  text  while  I  had  my  beloved  husband  to  lean 
upon.  My  little  trials  diminished  when  poured  into 
his  affectionate  bosom ;  and  when  I  was  cheered  and 
counseled  by  him  in  my  Christian  course,  or  in  my  la- 
bors in  the  societies,  difficulties  disappeared.  True, 
1  waited  upon  God,  attempted  no  duty  without  first 
asking  counsel  of  Him,  but  never  till  now  did  I  know 
what  it  is  to  trust  the  naked  promise,  and  feel  that 
loneliness  which  throws  the  heart  back  on  itself — 
that  complete  destitution  of  human  aid.  Whenever 
1  have  leaned  on  the  creature,  be  it  who  it  will,  I  have 
found  it  a  broken  reed  ;  and  often,  even  those  whom 
I  have  considered  my  best  friends  have  proved  spears 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  141 

to  pierce  me  to  the  heart.  "  This  is  not  your  rest," 
is  legibly  written  on  all  below.  All  my  cisterns  are 
broken. 

"Vain  is  the  world,  and  all  things  here; 
'Tis  but  a  bitter  sweet : 
When  I  attempt  a  rose  to  pluck, 
A  pricking  thorn  I  meet." 

And  what  has  been  the  language  of  God's  provi- 
dence to  me  during  the  past  year?  The  same  as  for- 
merly. "Cease  from  man."  *' Wherefore  will  you 
spend  your  money  for  naught,  and  your  labor  for  that 
which  satisfieth  not?"  "Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that 
labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  /will  give  you  rest. 
Learn  of  me,  for  I  am  meek  and  lowly."  God  will 
admit  of  no  rivals.  He  will  take  them  one  by  one, 
till  He  has  the  whole  heart ;  and  it  ought  to  make  us 
tremble,  when  we  look  for  comfort  to  the  creature, 
that  God,  when  we  pray,  will  answer  us  according  to 
the  multitude  of  our  idols.  This  is,  no  doubt,  why  I 
remain  so  rebellious — why  I  still  hanker  after  the 
sympathy  of  friends,  and  feel  hurt  when  they  neglect, 
or  do  not  seem  to  feel  for  me,  till  I  am  constrained  to 
cry  out  with  the  prophet,  "  Woe  is  me  for  my  hurt ! 
my  wound  is  grievous ;  but  I  said,  truly  this  is  my 
grief,  and  I  must  bear  it."  There  is  no  avoiding  it. 
None  luill^  none  can  help  me  but  God.  Would  that 
I  acted  in  consistency  with  this  belief,  and  looked  to 
Him  alone.  Would  that  I  cast  my  burden  on  the 
Lord,  believing  that  He  would  sustain  me,  and  not 
continually  attempt  to  lay  it  on  my  own  or  the  crea- 


142  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

turc's  sliouklers.  As  I  bad  not  a  thought  unknown 
to  my  beloved  husband,  and  cared  for  no  sympathy 
but  his,  why  do  I  not  act  in  the  same  way  toward  my 
Maker,  who  condescends  to  call  himself  my  husband, 
and  to  whom  I  married  and  devoted  myself,  soul, 
bod}^,  and  estate,  the  day  after  my  creature  husband 
was  laid  in  the  grave  ?  "  And  I  said,  I  will  not  trans- 
gress;" 3^et  how  often  have  I  wandered  from  Him, 
playing  the  harlot !  As  a  wife  treacherously  depart- 
eth  from  her  husband,  so  have  I  treacherously  de- 
parted from  my  heavenly  Husband.  "It  is  of  the 
Lord's  mercies  that  I  am  not  consumed,  because  His 
compassions  fail  not." 

I  confess  this  day  before  Thee^  my  God,  that  I  have 
broken  all  my  resolutions ;  that  I  have  not  been  faith- 
ful to  my  vows,  but  have  transgressed  times  and  ways 
without  number.  I  have  too  often  poured  my  com- 
plaint into  the  creature's  ear,  and  have  not  often 
enough,  nor  conscientiously  enough,  entered  into  my 
closet,  and  prayed  to  my  heavenly  Father.  I  have 
not  listened  to  the  voice  of  my  Eedeemer.  I  have, 
indeed,  bemoaned  myself  like  Ephraim,  as  a  bullock 
unaccustomed  to  the  yoke ;  but  I  have  not  meekly 
submitted  to  my  lot,  nor  kissed  the  rod.  The  fruit 
of  my  affliction  has  not  been  to  take  away  sin.  I 
have  not  been  properly  exercised,  and  therefore  it  has 
not  yielded  the  peaceable  fruit  of  righteousness.  0 
Lord,  I  experience  daily  that  the  way  of  man  is  not 
in  himself  It  is  not  in  man  that  walketh  to  direct 
his  steps.     "  0  Lord,  correct  me,  but  with  judgment ; 


MKS.  BETUUNE'S   WKITINGS.  143 

not  in  Thine  anger,  lest  Thou  bring  me  to  nothing." 
— Jer.,  X.,  23-4.  To  whom  can  I  go  but  unto  Thee  ? 
I  come,  Lord,  vile,  polluted,  hell-deserving  sinner  as  I 
am,  loathing  and  abhorring  myself,  and  repenting  in 
dust  and  ashes !  Oh,  may  I  hear  Thy  voice  saying, 
"Turn,  thou  backsliding  daughter,  for  I  am  married 
unto  you!"  Betroth  me  to  Thyself  in  an  everlasting- 
covenant.  Suffer  me  never  again  to  cherish  an  evil 
heart  of  unbelief  in  departing  from  the  living  God. 
"  Lord,  help  me,  or  I  2:)erish  !"  Oh,  may  the  year  to 
come  find  me  more  faithful  to  my  vows — more  con- 
scientious in  performing  all  my  duties ;  more  humble, 
more  meek  and  lowly,  more  forbearing  toward  oth- 
ers. Set  a  fresh  watch  upon  my  lips,  that  I  offend 
not  with  my  tongue.  May  I  "  lay  aside  every  weight, 
and  the  sin  which  most  easily  besets  me,  and  run 
with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  me,  looking 
continually  to  Jesus,  who  is  the  author  and  finisher 
of  my  faith."  I  desire  to  take  a  fresh  hold  of  my  cov- 
enant, ordered  in  all  things  and  sure,  for  myself,  my 
children,  my  children's  children,  my  sons-m-law,  and 
dear  Mary,  the  chosen  of  my  son.  Oh  grant  tliat  we 
may  all  be  guided  here  by  Thy  counsel,  and  hereafter 
received  to  Thy  glory.  Bless  and  reward  all  my 
friends;  pardon  my  enemies,  and  enable  me  to  forgive 
them,  and  cherish  no  bitterness  against  them ;  but 
may  my  prayer  still  be  for  them  in  their  calamities. 
I  leave  me  upon  Thee.  Do  what  seemeth  Thee  good 
with  me,  only  take  not  Thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me, 
but  hold  me  up  continually  by  Thy  right  hand. 


To  God  my  Father  and  Husband,  to  God  my  cru- 
cified and  risen  Savior,  and  to  God  the  Holy  Spirit, 
who  comforteth  me  in  all  my  afflictions,  be  glory  for- 
ever and  ever.     Amen. 


Sabbath,  Nov.  6th,  1825. 

My  son,  my  last  born  and  only  child  remaining 
■unmarried,  is  united  to  another  in  the  tenderest  con- 
nection, which  nothing  but  death  can  dissolve.  And 
now,  indeed,  I  feel  alone  as  to  the  creature.  My 
daughters  find  rest  in  the  houses  of  their  husbands. 
They  keep  at  home,  bring  up  their  children,  and,  of 
course,  as  I  did  myself  (oh  how  delightful),  find  their 
happiness  in  their  own  families.  My  son  has  now 
left  his  widowed  mother,  and  cleaves  to  his  wife. 

It  seems  as  if  my  work  was  done.  Why  am  I 
spared  ?  I  come  to  Thee,  0  my  heavenly  Father,  to 
ask  the  question.  Thou  Friend,  that  sticketh  closer 
than  a  brother!  Thou  Husband  of  the  widow!  Thou 
Father  of  the  fatherless!  Thou  Shield  of  the  stranger! 
Thou  Stay  of  the  orphan,  I  claim  Thee  in  all  these 
characters,  for  I  am  a  widow,  fatherless,  a  stranger, 
and  an  orphan.  Oh,  then,  calm  the  tumult  of  my 
mind.  Thou  canst  be  better  to  me  than  father,  moth- 
er, husband,  children.  Show  me  then,  0  my  God, 
why  Thou  sparest  me,  and  what  Thou  wouldst  have 
me  to  do.  Make  the  path  of  duty  plain  before  me. 
May  I  continue  to  hear  a  voice  behind  me,  saying, 
"  This  is  the  way ;  walk  ye  in  it."     However  trying 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  145 

to  flesh  and  blood,  enable  me  to  take  up  my  cross 
daily.     Oh  that  I  could  indeed  rest  in  God ! 

I  have  been  looking  over  some  of  my  beloved's 
letters  of  1800.  Oh  how  closely  he  walked  with  God, 
and  how  sweetly  did  he  comfort  me  by  pointing  out 
precious  promises  and  texts  to  encourage  me  to  pray 
over  them.  Twenty -five  years  ago,  when  harassed 
by  trials,  no  doubt  trying  to  flesh  and  blood,  but 
which  now  seem  trifles  in  comparison  to  those  heavy 
trials  I  have  since  passed  through,  he  mentioned  the 
17th  and  18th  verses  of  James  iii.,  and,  as  an  encour- 
aging promise,  James,  i.,  5.  No  doubt  I  prayed  over 
them  then ;  and  now  I  find  the  same  spirit  in  me, 
and  again  I  have  been  praying  for  deliverance  from 
a  murmuring  temper.  So  true  is  it  that  the  Canaan- 
ites  shall  not  cease  out  of  the  land,  but  the  Lord  will 
drive  them  out  by  little  and  little ;  and  not  till  the 
last  breath  be  drawn  shall  we  cease  to  be  troubled 
with  a  body  of  sin  and  death.  Lord,  Thou  seest  how 
little  progress  I  have  made  in  the  Divine  life.  I  am 
the  same  murmuring,  rebellious  creature  I  was  twen- 
ty-five years  ago.  O  Lord,  look  on  me  in  mercy. 
May  I  3^et  live  to  Thy  praise.  May  I  bring  forth 
fruit  in  old  age,  if  I  have  not  in  youth.  On  the  top- 
most bough  may  there  be  some  fruit  found.  Why 
do  I  still  grovel  below,  and  why  do  I  not  pant  more 
after  conformity  to  Thine  image.  Whom  have  I  now 
to  lean  upon  ?  Not  one.  Many  look  to  me  for  help, 
but  who  is  there  to  help  me?  Oh,  then,  enable  me 
to  look  to  Thee  alone,  Thou  Friend  of  the  friendless ! 

G 


146  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

"  Thou,  O  Christ,  art  all  I  want ; 
Freely  let  me  take  of  Thee  ; 
Spring  Thou  up  within  my  heart ; 
Rise  to  all  eternity." 

The  86th  and  88th  Psalms  suit  me  at  present. 
''Lover  and  friend  hast  Thou  put  far  from  me,  and  my 
acquaintance  in  darkness ;  but  Thou  art  a  God  full 
of  compassion  and  gracious,  long-suffering,  and  plen- 
teous in  mercy  and  truth.  O  turn  unto  me,  and  have 
mercy  upon  me.  Give  Thy  strength  unto  Thy  serv- 
ant and  the  son  of  Thy  handmaid.  Show  me  a  token 
for  good,  that  they  which  hate  me  may  see  it  and  be 
ashamed ;  because  Thou,  Lord,  hast  holpen  me  and 
comforted  me.  Teach  me  Thy  way,  O  Lord.  I  will 
walk  in  Thy  truth.  Unite  my  heart  to  fear  Thy 
name."     Amen.     Come,  Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly ! 


March  21st,  1826. 

This  evening  I  expect  a  few  religious  friends,  to 
converse  on  the  subject  of  infant  schools.  I  have 
often  thought  on  the  subject,  and  have  prayed  to  the 
Lord,  if  it  was  His  will,  to  use  me  as  an  instrument 
in  promoting  them,  and  now  he  seems  about  to  an- 
swer my  prayer.  Why,  oh  why  am  I  thus  honored? 
"Even  so.  Father,  for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  Thy 
sight."  Thou  art  never  at  a  loss  for  an  instrument 
when  Thou  hast  work  to  do.  Thou  often  choosest 
the  weak  things  of  this  world  to  confound  the  wise. 
O  may  the  time  be  come  when  we  shall  begin  at  the 
root — when  the  first  lisping  accents  of  babes  shall  be 


147 

heard  in  praising  Thy  name.  Look  now  on  Thy 
widowed  handmaid  before  Thee,  married  to  Thee, 
and  devoted  to  Thy  service  from  the  day  Thou  didst 
take  away  the  desire  of  my  eyes  with  a  stroke.  My 
beloved  mother  told  me,  on  her  death-bed,  to  give 
mj^self  to  the  young ;  and  from  the  time  that  I  did 
so,  Thou  hast  given  me  pleasant  work  to  do,  and  hast 
not  withheld  from  me  my  wages.  Thou  hast  abund- 
antly prospered  the  Orphan  Asylum  Society  and  Sab- 
bath-schools ;  is  it  too  much  to  ask  Thee  to  give  me 
to  see  the  infant  schools  established,  and  some  work 
for  me  to  do  in  them  ?  Lord,  hear  my  prayer,  now 
that  1  have  retired  to  my  room  to  plead  Thy  precious 
promises  to  Thine  own  people,  and  to  pray  for  grace 
to  follow  the  direction  in  Thy  Word  —  that  Word 
which  has  been  and  is,  indeed,  a  light  to  my  feet  and 
a  lamp  to  my  path.  I  record  the  texts  which  I  plead 
before  Thee  in  behalf  of  the  work  we  are  to  set  about 
this  evening:  Proverbs,  iii.,  5,  6 ;  Psalm  xxxvii.,  5; 
Genesis,  xxiv.,  xxvii.,  4;  Psalm  xxvii.,  11 ;  Exodus, 
xxxiii.,  13-18. 

Lord,  I  come  boldly  unto  a  throne  of  grace,  to  ob- 
tain mercy  and  find  grace  for  a  time  of  need.  Thou 
hast  commanded,  "  Open  thy  mouth  wide,  and  I  will 
fill  it."  Lord,  I  obe3^  I  open  my  mouth  wide.  I 
ask  nothing  less  than  that  all  may  be  taught  of  God 
to  know  Thee,  the  true  God,  "  from  the  least  unto  the 
greatest."  Must  not  that  time  come  ?  Yea,  we  know 
it  shall  come ;  and,  as  the  Lord  works  by  means,  may 
the  little  company  to  meet  here  this  evening  be  the 


148  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

instruments  who  are  to  bring  about  the  fulfillment  of 
thy  prophecies ! 


Eockaway,  L.  I.,  July  4,  1826. 

My  dear  children  are  all  now  at  this  place,  in  Prov- 
idence, after  an  absence  of  nine  years,  and  I  am  now 
a  desolate  widow.  Oh,  how  many  recollections  crowd 
on  my  mind  while  again  revisiting  this  place.  O 
Lord,  remember  not  against  me  former  iniquities. 
Let  Thy  tender  mercies  speedily  prevent  me,  for  I 
am  brought  very  low.  Help  us,  0  God  of  our  salva- 
tion, for  the  glory  of  Thy  name,  and  deliver  us,  and 
purge  away  our  sins,  for  Thy  name's  sake;  so  we, 
the  people  of  Thy  pasture,  will  give  Thee  thanks  for- 
ever. We  will  show  forth  Thy  praise  to  all  genera- 
tions. Turn  us  again,  O  God  of  Hosts,  and  cause  Thy 
face  to  shine,  and  we  shall  be  saved ;  upon  us.  Thy 
widowed  handmaid  and  the  children  whom  Thou 
hast  given  her,  all  Thy  professing  people,  and  one  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel.  "  Let  Thy  hand  be  upon  the 
man  of  Thy  right  hand — upon  the  man  whom  Thou 
madest  strong  for  Thyself;  so  will  we  not  go  back 
from  Thee.  Quicken  us,  and  we  will  call  upon  Thy 
name."  But,  O  gracious  God,  give  us  all,  each  one 
for  himself  and  for  herself,  to  ask  in  faith  for  that 
quickening  Spirit.  Much,  much  have  I  to  repent  of 
before  Thee ;  and  never  till  now  have  I  appreciated 
the  anxiety  and  prayers  of  my  widowed  mother ;  yet. 
Lord,  to  whom  can  I  go  but  to  Thee?     Thou,  and 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  149 

Thou  only,  canst  pardon ;  Thon,  and  Thou  only, 
canst  comfort  me;  Thou,  and  Thou  only,  canst  sus- 
tain me  amid  my  various  trials  and  difficulties.  My 
chief  anxiety  at  present,  O  Lord,  Thou  knowest,  is 
for  my  beloved  son,  "  the  only  son  of  his  mother,  and 
she  a  widow" — this  son,  for  whom  his  father  prayed, 
and  lent  to  the  Lord  for  all  the  daysof  his  life.  Like 
Abraham,  he  saw  the  promise  afar  off.  O  grant  the 
answer  to  the  prayer  of  faith,  which  often  and  often 
he  presented  at  Thy  throne  in  his  behalf,  and  may 
noio  be  the  time  to  answer  all  the  prayers  of  twenty- 
one  years.  Lord,  I  tremble  to  think  that  the  least  of 
the  three  who  united  in  dedicating  this  son  should  be 
left  to  wutness  the  answer  of  part  of  the  prayers  put 
up  for  him,  even  to  hear  him  preach — that  I  only 
have  resting  upon  me  the  responsibilities  of^imrent. 
O  Lord,  grant  me  now  that  wisdom  which  is  profita- 
ble to  direct  me  in  the  path  of  duty.  Let  me  not  hes- 
itate to  admonish  and  warn  him,  and  advise  him;  and 
do  Thou  give  him  that  charity  which  endureth  all 
things,  and  that  spirit  of  meekness  under  reproof 
which  he  will  have  to  preach  to  others.  0  Lord, 
grant  that  a  double  portion  of  the  Spirit  which  rested 
on  his  dear  father  may  rest  on  him.  Let  him  not  be 
negligent,  seeing,  I  humbly  trust,  Thou  hast  chosen 
him  to  minister  to  Thee.  O  that  he  would  hearken 
unto  Thee,  and  walk  in  thy  ways ;  then  Thou  hast 
promised  that  Thou  wait  subdue  his  enemies,  and 
turn  Thy  hand  against  his  adversaries,  even  the  cor- 
ruptions of  his  heart,  and  especially  the  sin  which 
most  easily  besets  him,  which  Thou  knowest. 


150  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

I  desire,  tliis  14tli  day  of  Jiilj,«1826,  to  renew  iiiy 
covenant  with  Thee,  my  gracious  Father,  Savior,  and 
Sanctifier,  for  myself  and  for  my  children,  now  father- 
less. I  have  been  pouring  out  my  heart  to  Thee,  con- 
fessing my  own  sins,  and  Thy  right  to  chastise  me  for 
them.  I  again  put  my  hand  upon  the  head  of  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain  for  sinners,  confessing  my  sins 
and  the  sins  of  my  children.  As  Thy  people  of  old 
looked  to  the  serpent  that  was  lifted  up  in  the  wil- 
derness, so  now  I  desire  to  look,  for  myself  and  my 
children,  to  the  lifted-up  Healer,  the  blessed  Jesus; 
and  as  the  children  of  Israel  were  healed  of  their 
dreadful  diseases,  so  may  we  be  healed  of  the  more 
dreadful  maladies  of  sm.  Grant  that,  as  the  scape- 
goat fled  away  with  the  sins  of  the  people,  my  sins 
and  the  sins  of  my  children  may  be  blotted  out  from 
the  book  of  Thy  remembrance.  The  blood  of  Christ 
cleanses  from  all  sin.  Take  us  then,  O  Lord,  as  a 
family  called  by  Thy  name ;  a  family  to  whom  Thy 
steppings  have  been  very  stately ;  in  whom  are  wit- 
nessed the  answers  of  many  prayers,  the  prayers  of 
faith,  put  up  by  those  who  have  now  taken  possession 
of  the  mansions  prepared  for  them,  from  whose  eyes 
Thou  hast  wiped  away  all  tears,  and  who  are  now 
seated  at  Thy  I'ight  hand,  where  they  shall  enjoy 
pleasures  unalloyed  for  evermore.  Yet  a  little  while, 
when  we  have  finished  the  work  Thou  hast  laid  out 
for  us,  may  we  also,  through  grace,  join  with  them  in 
singing  the  song  of  the  Eedeemer.  O  enable  me  to 
be  willing  to  wait  all  the  days  of  my  appointed  time, 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  151 

till  my  change  come ;  and  instead  of  the  fathers  and 
mothers,  do  Thou  take  the  children,  and  cause  them 
to  walk  still  more  circumspectly  in  the  way  of  Thy 
commandments  than  ever  we  have  done,  and  to  be 
much  more  useful  in  their  day  and  generation  than 
we  have  been,  and  to  be  the  honored  instruments  of 
advancing  the  kingdom  of  that  dear  Savior  who  has 
done  so  much  for  them. 


New  York,  Sabbath  evening,  July  15th,  1826. 

This  day  my  son  preached  his  first  sermon  in  a 
regular  church  (my  son  M'Cartee's).  The  Lord  was 
very  gracious  to  him,  and  carried  him  through  with 
great  ease  to  himself;  and,  I  have  reason  to  think, 
his  discourse  was  acceptable.  His  text  was,  Gala- 
tians,  vi.,  14:  "But  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory, 
save  in  the  cross  of  Christ."  Glory  to  God,  who  has 
this  day  answered  the  prayers  of  twenty-one  years. 
The  following  texts  were  given  me  this  morning  for 
my  comfort,  and  which  I  now  record  as  answered  by 
my  compassionate  High-Priest,  in  carrying  my  be- 
loved son  through,  and  giving  me  composure  of  mind 
while  hearing  him:  Psalm  xxxviii.,  15:  For  in  Thee, 
0  Lord,  do  I  hope :  Thou  wilt  hear,  0  Lord  my  God. 
Forsake  me  not,  O  Lord ;  O  my  God,  be  not  far  from 
me.  Make  haste  to  help  me,  O  God  of  my  salvation. 
Daniel,  ix.,  17,  18,  19 :  Now  therefore,  O  our  God, 
hear  the  prayer  of  Thy  servant,  and  our  supplica- 
tions, and  cause  Thy  face  to  shine  upon  Thy  sanctu- 


152  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

ury  tbat  is  desolate,  for  the  Lord's  sake.  O  my  God, 
incline  Thine  ear  and  hear ;  open  Thine  eyes,  and  be- 
hold our  desolations.  We  are  a  family  called  by 
Thy  name ;  for  we  do  not  present  our  supplications 
before  Thee  for  our  righteousness,  but  for  Thy  great 
mercies.  O  Lord,  hear;  O  Lord,  forgive;  O  Lord, 
hearken  and  do ;  defer  not,  for  Thine  own  sake,  0 
my  God ;  for  we  are  a  people  called  by  Thy  name. 
Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul!  Halleluiah!  Amen. 
And  now.  Lord,  Thou  hast  heard  and  answered  all 
our  prayers  for  this  youth,  in  giving  me  to  see  him  a 
herald  of  the  Cross ;  but,  O  Lord,  unless  Thy  pres- 
ence accompany  him  in  his  labors,  let  him  not  go  a 
step  farther.  But  let  not  my  faith  fail  at  this  late 
period,  after  trusting  and  believing  so  long.  He  who 
has  begun  the  good  work  will  carry  it  on  to  the  day 
of  Christ  Jesus.  Li  Thy  hands  I  leave  him,  0  my 
covenant  God.  Thou  hast,  and  Thou  wilt  do  all 
things  well. 

I  will  now  record  some  providential  circimistances 
connected  with  this  important  period  of  my  son's  life. 
Nine  years  ago  I  was  at  Rockaway,  with  my  daugh- 
ters, and  we  were  the  means  of  establishing  a  Sab- 
bath-school there.  The  school-house  being  too  small 
to  accommodate  all  the  scholars,  and  Mrs.  Cornell 
wishing  also  to  have  a  place  where  ministers  could 
come  and  preach  occasionally,  got  me  to  write  a  peti- 
tion for  a  block-house  that  was  going  to  decay.  The 
petition  was  granted.  Mr.  Cornell  gave  ground  to 
set  it  in ;  the  neighbors  volunteered,  with  their  teams, 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  153 

to  move  it,  and  subscriptions  were  collected  to  make 
quite  a  decent  place  of  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  as 
well  as  Sabbath-school.  Since  that  period  they  have 
had  frequent  preaching  in  it.  I  have  never  been 
there  since  until  last  week.  I  was  not  anxious  for 
George  to  go,  lest  the  company  might  dissipate  his 
mind,  after  the  solemn  exercises  he  had  been  engaged 
in  while  passing  trials  for  licensure;  but — oh  the 
goodness  of  God — the  .night  we  arrived  there  a  min- 
ister was  to  preach,  but,  being  very  ill,  asked  George 
if  he  was  licensed,  and  if  he  would  take  his  place. 
Thus,  in  the  house  which  our  family  had  been  the 
means  of  getting,  my  dear  son  preached  his  first  ser- 
mon. He  also  had  family  worship  morning  and  even- 
ing, at  which  nearly  all  the  boarders  attended ;  and 
thus,  at  the  very  outset  of  his  ministry,  he  was  called 
to  show  his  zeal  for  the  Lord,  in  accordance  with 
the  first  hymn  he  gave  out, 

"I'm  not  ashamed  to  own  my  Lord,"  etc. 

I  was  much  pleased  with  his  conduct  during  the 
few  days  we  staid,  and  it  was  the  more  gratifying  to 
me  as  the  answers  to  my  earnest  prayers.  For  some 
time  past  he  has  occupied  my  mind  almost  entirely, 
being  the  subject  of  my  thoughts  and  prayers  after 
lying  down  and  before  rising  up.  Now,  Lord,  I  once 
more  cast  myself  and  my  children  on  Thee.  Perii^ct 
what  concerns  us ;  give  us  all  grace  to  persevere  in 
well-doing ;  and  oh !  through  the  instrumentality  of 
this  youth's  preaching,  add  to  Thy  Church  many  of 
such  as  shall  be  saved.  Bless  my  dear  sons-in-law. 
G2 


154  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

Eeward  them  both  for  their  kindness  to  their  father- 
less brother.  Continue  to  be  the  Husband  of  the 
widow  and  the  Father  of  the  fatherless,  for  in  Thee 
do  we  hope.     Amen. 


New  York,  September  18th,  1826. 
"A  day  to  be  remembered;"  yes,  a  day  to  be  re- 
membered— the  second  anniversary  of  the  dismissal 
from  sin  and  sorrow  of  my  beloved  husband ;  the 
day  when  the  Lord  saw  fit,  in  His  all- wise  and  just 
providence,  to  take  away  the  desire  of  my  eyes. 
Two  years  of  happiness  to  him ;  oh,  must  I  still  say, 
unhappiness  to  me  ?  Yes ;  my  tears  still  flow,  and 
flow  faster  and  more  frequently  than  when  first  be- 
reaved. The  feeling  of  missing  the  right  hand  will 
remain  while  I  am  in  the  body.  I  have  shut  myself 
up  to  spend  the  day  with  my  heavenly  Husband.  I 
have,  on  my  knees,  endeavored  to  recollect  and  con- 
fess the  sins  of  the  past  year,  and  I  have  also  endeav- 
ored to  call  to  mind  the  many  mercies  of  the  past 
year.  They,  like  my  sins,  are  more  in  number  than 
I  can  tell.  O  Thou  who  seest  the  bitter  anguish  of 
my  heart,  pardon  my  ingratitude,  and  deal  not  with 
me  as  my  iniquities  deserve  but  in  wrath  remember 
mercy.  0  give  me  rest  from  days  of  sad  adversity, 
and  may  that  rest  be  in  Thee.  While  Thou  emptiest 
me  from  vessel  to  vessel,  pour  into  my  heart  those 
consolations  which  the  world  can  not  give  (oh,  do  I 
not  know  it  by  sad  experience?),  and  which,  bless  the 


155 

Lord,  0  my  soul !  the  world  can  not  take  away.  Al- 
though I  never  can,  nor  do  I  wish  to  forget,  for  a  mo- 
ment, my  beloved  husband,  I  would  desire  to  look 
more  to  the  mercies  and  blessings  which  remain,  and 
for  this  purpose  would  enumerate  the  mercies  of  last 
year,  and  endeavor,  by  that  means,  to  calm  the  tu- 
mult which,  in  spite  of  myself,  almost  overwhelms 
me*.  My  tears  flow  till  my  head  and  my  eyes  ache, 
and  my  heart  is  like  to  break  with  the  thought  that 
I  am  indeed  a  desolate  widow ;  that  I  never  more  can 
go  to  my  beloved  husband,  and  pour  all  my  griefs 
and  sorrows  into  his  affectionate  bosom ;  that  I  must 
plod  my  weary  way  alone  through  the  wilderness; 
that  he  is  no  longer  here  to  counsel  me  in  difficulty 
and  soothe  me  in  trouble.  I  have  been  shutting  my- 
self up  to  spend  the  day  with  my  Husband  God ;  but 
his  dear  image  continually  presents  itself  to  my  mind 
— his  sweet,  benevolent  countenance,  as  it  were,  smiles 
on  me,  and  I  have  not  resolution  to  put  him  aside, 
that  I  may  commune  with  my  God.  Lord,  help  me ! 
Take  the  place  Thyself  Oh,  bless  me  with  Thine 
own  unclouded  day,  and  then  I  shall  not  miss  the 
dying  lamp  which  Thou  hast  removed. 


■f 


March  18th,  1827— George's  birthday. 
This  day  twenty-two  years  old. 

My  beloved  son  is  at  present  in  Savannah.  I  have 
been  pouring  out  my  heart  to  my  covenant  God  in 
behalf  of  this  dear  youth,  and  pleading  the  promises 


156 

selected  by  liis  dear  flither  on  the  day  of  his  birth 
and  the  day  of  his  baptism,  as  also  reading,  praying, 
and  weeping  over  many  other  papers  also  marked, 
in  subsequent  years,  by  the  dear  hand  now  moulder- 
ing in  the  dust.  But  I  feel  cold  and  listless,  and 
need  especially  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
thaw  and  melt  my  frozen  heart.  Oh,  when  I  review 
the  way  in  which  the  Lord  has  led  me — when  I  read 
and  recollect  the  many  petitions  he  has  granted,  and 
the  many  mercies  I  ungratefully  enjoy — I  feel,  in- 
deed, that  I  ought,  if  I  do  not,  loathe  m3^self,  and  re- 
pent in  dust  and  ashes  for  my  ingratitude,  and  my 
doings  which  are  not  good.  Every  thing  I  asked 
this  day  two  years  for  my  son  and  myself  the  Lord 
has  granted,  as  it  respects  temporal  things,  and,  in 
some  degree,  spiritual.  What  can  I  say  for  all  this 
exuberant  goodness?  Nothing.  Not  unto  ns,  not 
unto  us  be  the  glory.  It  is  all  of  grace,  and  grace 
shall  have  the  praise. 

* '  Oh  to  grace  how  great  a  debtor 

Daily  I'm  constrained  to  be  ;  • 

Let  that  grace,  Lord,  like  a  fetter. 
Bind  my  wandering  heart  to  Thee. 

*•  Prone  to  wander,  Lord,  I  feel  it ; 
Prone  to  leave  the  God  I  love ; 
Here's  my  heart — oh,  take  and  seal  it — 
Seal  it  for  Thy  courts  above." 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  157 


Sabbath  evening,  March  26,  1827. 
As  I  am  about  putting  up  a  tablet  to  the  memory 
of  my  dear  beloved  husband  and  mother  in  Pearl 
Street  Church,  under  which  the  dear  remains  rest,  I 
appointed  to  meet  Mr.  Strong  on  Friday  evening,  to 
fix  upon  a  suitable  place  for  it.  It  was  preparation 
sermon.  The  Eev.  Mr.  Monteith,  the  pastor,  preach- 
ed from  Psalm  cxxvi.,  6.  It  was  a  plain,  practical  dis- 
course, and  suited  to  my  feelings,  which  were  very 
tender.  Many  tender  recollections  connected  with 
the  place  crowded  on  my  mind.  Mr.  Monteith  gave 
an  invitation  to  members  in  good  standing  in  sister 
churches  who  might  be  present  to  come  forward  and 
receive  tokens  of  admission  to  the  Lord's  Supper  the 
ensuing  Sabbath.  I  accepted  the  invitation,  and  have 
this  day  again  been  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  The 
subject  of  discourse  was  Heb.,  ii.,  10 :  "  For  it  became 
Him,  for  whom  are  all  things,  and  by  whom  are  all 
things,  in  bringing  many  sons  unto  glory,  to  make 
the  Captain  of  their  salvation  perfect  through  suffer- 
ings." I  was  fed,  I  think,  both  under  the  sermon  and 
at  the  table ;  but  oh,  I  fear  the  creature  too  often 
usurped  the  place  of  the  Creator.  So  many  associa- 
tions wnth  the  place  brought  former  scenes  of  joys 
and  sorrows  to  my  mind,  that  my  eyes  poured  forth 
torrents  of  tears  over  departed  relations ;  yet  I  trust 
I  was  not  entirely  without  the  kindlings  of  repent- 
ance when  I  reviewed  my  past  life.  Oh,  it  is  a  sad 
review !     What  have  I  done  during  thirty -six  years 


158 

tliat  I  have  been  a  communicant  in  the  Church? 
Nothing !  nothing !  What  would  become  of  me  if  I 
had  not  a  complete  Savior — if  the  Captain  of  mj  sal- 
vation had  not  been  made  perfect  through  suffering? 
During  the  happy,  happy  years  of  my  married  life,  I 
did  not  do  as  my  beloved  husband  did,  keep  books 
of  communion  with  my  God,  and  now  I  feel  the  want. 
Sometimes  I  feel  as  if  I  had  never  enjoyed  commun- 
ion with  Him,  but  all  the  past  seems  like  a  pleasing, 
and  often  painful  dream ;  yet  hundreds  of  instances 
crowd  on  my  remembrance  of  answers  to  prayers  put 
up  at  the  Lord's  table.  Great  encouragement  I  have 
had  to  pray  in  faith,  although  I  have  not  recorded  it. 
The  one  thing  I  asked  for  my  children  has  been  grant- 
ed, and  oh  how  much  added !  but  the  Lord  had  no 
sooner  granted  all  the  desires  of  our  hearts  respecting 
them  than  He  began  to  weaken  my  beloved  in  the 
way,  and  now  I  am  left  alone  of  those  who  communi- 
cated in  the  church  where  two  of  three  now  rest. 
Now  what  is  my  petition  this  day  ?  What  remains 
for  me  to  do  ?  Have  I  still  years  before  me,  or  am 
I  shortly  to  follow  those  who  have  gone  before? 
Are  my  days  to  glide  heavily,  but  peacefully  along 
to  the  grave,  or  have  I  to  pass  through  still  more 
tribulation  before  I  enter  the  kingdom  ?  Ah !  Lord, 
Thou  knowest.  The  Lord  has  done  and  finished  all 
things  well  for  those  dear  to  me,  and  why  should  I 
not  trust  Him  to  do  for  me  what  seemeth  good? 
"  Lord,  I  believe;  help  my  unbelief"  Enable  me  this 
night  to  renew  the  covenant  which  Thou  didst  make 


159 

with  me  in  youth.  How  often  hast  Thou  drawn  me 
with  the  cords  of  love !  How  often  hast  thou  laid 
me  on  a  sick-bed,  and  chastised  me  in  other  ways,  to 
bring  me  back  to  Thee  when  wandering  from  Thee ; 
but  oh!  nothing  completely  weaned  me  from  the 
world  till  Thou  didst  ''  take  the  desire  of  my  eyes 
with  a  stroke,"  and  now  I  see  I  can  have  no  enjoy- 
ment more  below,  but  as  I  enjoy  it  in  the  presence  of 
my  Husband,  God.  Come,  then,  Lord,  take  complete 
possession  of  my  heart ;  make  it  indeed  a  temple  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  0  drive  out  the  buyers  and  sellers. 
Purify  all  my  motives,  and  hallow  all  my  affections. 
If  it  be  Thy  will  to  spare  me  years  or  months,  give 
me  my  work,  and  let  me  do  it  to  Thee  alone. 

None  can  help  me  but  God.  I  can  not  even  take 
the  remedy  offered  unless  He  bid  me  stretch  out  the 
withered  hand.  I  can  not  pray  unless  He  pour  out 
a  spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication.  I  can  not  keep 
my  tongue  from  offending  unless  He  set  a  watch  upon 
my  lips.  I  can  not  see  the  path  of  duty  unless  He 
anoint  my  eyes  to  see  it.  I  can  not  even  cast  my 
burden  on  the  Lord  unless  His  grace  enable  me. 
The  whole  head  is  sick,  the  whole  heart  is  faint; 
from  the  crown  of  my  head  to  the  soles  of  my 
feet,  I  am  nothing  but  wounds,  and  bruises,  and  pu- 
trefying sores.  I  am  like  an  owl  in  the  desert — a 
pelican  in  the  wilderness.  I  feel  empty  of  every 
thing;  and  if  ever  again  I  experience  happiness  in 
this  world — if  ever  again  I  am  made  to  be  useful — 
if  ever  again  I  am  favored  with  that  peace  that  pass- 


160  MES.  bethune's  writings. 

etli  all  understanding — if  ever  again  I  can  say  "my 
Beloved  is  mine  and  I  am  His" — if  ever  again  I  feel 
entire  submission  and  acquiescence  to  the  will  of 
God — if  ever  again  tliese  weak,  dying  embers  of 
grace  in  my  heart  be  fanned  into  a  flame,  God 
must  do  it,  and  He  only  shall  have  the  praise.  What- 
ever others  may  say  of  moral  ability,  I  am  sure  I 
have  none.  God  must  offer;  God  must  give  grace 
to  accept.  He  must  make  me  willing  in  a  day  of 
His  power  noiL\  as  the  first  time  I  believed.  Lord,  I 
lie  at  Thy  mercy.  Bid  me  come  unto  Thee,  and  I 
will  come  over  these  troubled  waves,  which  threaten 
to  overwhelm  me.  I  leave  myself  in  Thy  hands.  I 
can  not  doubt  that  I  have  once  experienced  Thy  love 
shed  abroad  in  my  heart,  and  must  still  trust  that 
Thou  wilt  yet  have  mercy  upon  me.  Like  Jonah,  I 
will  look  again  unto  Thy  holy  temple.  Blessed 
"Word  of  God,  what  would  I  do  without  it  ?  Only 
let  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  shine  on  His  own  Word, 
and  I  can  never  be  in  darkness.  Why  art  thou  cast 
down,  O  my  soul ;  I  shall  yet  praise  Him.  Lord,  do 
as  Thou  hast  said.  When  I  put  Thee  in  remem- 
brance, blot  out  my  transgressions,  for  Thy  name's 
sake,  and  remember  no  more  my  sins.  0  plead  for 
me,  my  Savior!  Show  Thy  hands  and  Thy  feet 
pierced  for  me,  and  enable  me  again  to  say,  My  Lord 
and  my  God ! 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  161 


Sabbath,  July  8,  1827. 

This  day  I  have  again  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  sit- 
ting down  at  the  Lord's  table,  and  eating  and  drink- 
ing the  memorials  of  His  broken  body  and  shed  blood. 
Mr.  M'Cartee  preached  from  John,  i.,  Idt:  "And  the 
Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us,  and  we 
beheld  His  glory,  the  glory  of  the  Only -begotten  of 
the  Father,  full  of  grace  and  truth."  I  trust  I  felt  it 
a  privilege  to  understand  the  meaning  of  the  text, 
and  to  follow  the  Lord's  servant  through  his  discourse 
with  the  assent  of  my  mind,  but  my  heart  was  cold, 
and  my  desires  after  communion  with  my  God  very 
languid.  My  tears  ought  to  have  flowed  for  my  sins, 
and  the  sorrows  my  Savior  endured  for  these  sins; 
but  the  fountains  were  sealed  till  he  began  to  men- 
tion the  departure  of  dear  friends  since  last  commun- 
ion, and  that  he  had  never  yet  dispensed  a  sacrament 
that  he  did  not  miss  some  one  that  had  sat  down 
with  us  at  the  previous  one ;  but  I  was  overwhelmed 
when  he  quoted  my  beloved  husband's  dying  words : 
"  How  can  I  doubt,  how  can  I  fear,  when  the  eternal 
God  is  my  refuge,  and  underneath  me  are  the  ever- 
lasting arms?"  in  contrast  to  the  words  of  a  dying- 
sinner,  "I  can  not  die;  oh,  I  can  not  die,  sir!  How 
can  I  face  my  God,  whom  I  have  despised  ?"  Then, 
then  the  torrents  poured  forth ;  then  the  dear  de- 
parted took  the  place  the  Savior  ought  to  have  held, 
and  his  countenance  was  again  before  me  as  on  his 
dying  bed,  or  as  when  in  health,  and  looking  upon 


162  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

my  sorrow.  Oh,  still,  still  the  idol !  Still,  still  I  hug 
the  withered  gourd.  Lord,  help  me,  or  I  perish !  Look- 
ing for  something  to  read,  I  laid  my  hand  on  Thomas 
a  Kempis.  I  recollected  it  was  a  favorite  book  during 
the  first  year  of  my  mother's  widowhood,  and  there  I 
found  something  to  suit  me.  I  here  translate  it  for 
my  future  comfort,  when  exposed  to  the  same  tempt- 
ations : 

CHAPTER  XLV. 

"  Against  extravagant  dejection  upon  being  some- 
times betrayed  by  human  weakness. 

"1st.  Humility  and  patience,  my  son,  under  ad- 
versity, are  more  acceptable  to  me  than  much  joy 
and  fervor  when  all  is  prosperous  without  and  peace- 
ful within. 

"2d.  Why  art  thou  offended  and  grieved  at  every 
little  injury  from  men,  when,  if  it  were  much  greater, 
it  ought  to  be  borne  without  emotion  ?  As  fast  as 
such  evils  arise,  let  their  influence  be  banished  from 
the  mind.  They  are  not  new ;  thou  hast  met  with 
many,  and,  if  thy  life  be  long,  thou  shalt  meet  with 
many  more. 

"3d.  When  adversity  stands  not  in  thy  path,  thou 
boastest  of  thy  fortitude,  and  canst  give  excellent 
counsel  to  others,  whom  thou  expectest  to  derive 
strength  from  thy  exhortations;  but  no  sooner  do 
the  same  evils  that  oppressed  them  burn  upon  thy- 
self, than  thy  fortitude  forsakes  thee,  and  thou  art 
destitute  both  of  counsel  and  of  strength." 


163 

Lord,  I  confess  it,  it  is  so.  I  am,  indeed,  what 
Thou  sajest,  destitute  of  strength  and  counsel ;  and 
now  I  desire,  in  the  words  of  the  disciple  replying 
to  Christ,  to  say,  "Thy  words,  0  Lord,  distill  as  the 
dew,  and  are  sweeter  to  my  taste  than  honey  or  the 
honey-comb."  What  would  become  of  me,  in  the 
midst  of  so  much  darkness,  corruption,  and  misery, 
without  Thy  Holy  Spirit  to  illuminate,  sanctify,  and 
comfort  me  ?  I  will  not  regard  what  or  how  much 
I  suffer,  if  I  can  but  be  made  capable  of  enjoying 
Thee,  my  supreme  and  only  good.  Be  mindful  of 
me,  0  most  gracious  God !  Grant  me  a  safe  passage 
through  this  vale  of  sin  and  sorrow,  and,  in  the  true 
path,  conduct  me  to  the  heavenly  kingdom.  Amen. 
Lord,  hear  also  the  prayer  in  the  47th  chapter,  and 
calm  my  mind,  and  strengthen  me  for  future  duty. 


July  15,  1827. 

To-morrow  I  begin  the  first  infant  school.  It  is  an 
important  period  of  my  life,  and  I  now  desire  to  ac- 
knowledge the  goodness  of  God  in  permitting  me  to 
see  the  work  so  far.  I  wished  to  have  others  go  for- 
ward, and  then  I  would  have  helped,  being  averse  to 
appear  before  the  public  in  my  widowed  state;  but 
the  Lord  has  ordered  it  otherwise.  He  has  evidently 
made  it  my  duty  to  go  first  in  this  work ;  and  al- 
though the  weather  is  very  hot,  and  flesh  and  blood 
shrink  from  the  labor  before  me,  yet  I  dare  not  draw 
back,  but  go  forward  trusting,  yea,  knowing  that  my 


164  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

strength  shall  be  equal  to  my  day.  Lord,  only  give 
me  the  consolation  of  hearing  Thee  sa}^,  "Fear  thou 
not,  for  I  am  with  thee ;  be  not  dismayed,  for  I  am 
thy  God:  I  will  strengthen  thee;  yea,  I  will  help 
thee ;  yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with  the  right  hand  of 
my  righteousness." 

May  all  engaged  in  this  new  institution  have  a 
single  eye  to  Thy  glory.  May  we  go  from  our  knees 
to  every  duty,  first  asking  help  of  Thee,  and  then, 
believing  Thy  promise,  go  forward  in  the  work.  It 
is,  again,  the  weaker  vessels  that  commence  this  work, 
as  they  did  the  Sabbath-school;  and  we  have  the 
same  promises,  the  same  throne  of  grace,  the  same 
dear,  compassionate  Savior,  the  same  Holy  Spirit  to 
influence  us,  and  the  same  Father,  who  pities  us  as 
His  children,  and  can  as  well  work  by  few  as  by 
many,  by  the  weak  as  by  the  strong,  and  who,  for 
His  own  glory,  will  bring  to  pass  what  we  commit  to 
Him.  "  That  they  may  see,  and  know,  and  consider, 
and  understand  together,  that  the  hand  of  the  Lord 
has  done  this,  and  the  Holy  One  of  Israel  hath  crea- 
ted it."  O  may  the  little  one  become  a  thousand ;  and, 
like  the  Sabbath  -  schools,  may  infant  schools  spread 
over  the  land.  Oh,  is  it  not  a  fulfillment  of  the  proph- 
ecies, that  out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings 
the  Lord  will  perfect  praise?  0  Lord,  pardon  our 
sins  for  so  long  neglecting  these  children.  0  let  them 
all  now  be  gathered  into  schools.  The  silver  and  the 
gold  are  Thine,  as  well  as  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand 
hills,  and  the  hearts  of  all  men  are  in  Thine  hand. 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  165 

and  Thou  canst  turn  them  as  rivers  of  waters.  Turn, 
then,  the  attention  of  the  rich  to  this  work.  Counsel 
our  counselors.  Give  zeal  and  diligence  to  our  man- 
agers ;  and  look  in  mercy  on  thy  handmaid,  who  is 
again  at  the  head  of  a  new  institution,  and  to  whom 
many  are  looking  for  advice  and  instruction  on  this 
subject.  Bless  all  the  teachers  who  shall  engage  in 
the  work.  May  they  indeed  be  apt  to  teach,  and 
may  our  scholars  be  apt  to  learn.  0  take  these  lambs 
in  Thine  arms,  and  may  a  numerous  seed  to  serve 
Thee  be  furnished  by  the  infant  schools.  As  the  gar- 
den causeth  things  that  are  sown  in  it  to  spring  forth, 
so  may  the  Lord  cause  righteousness  and  praise  to 
spring  forth  before  all  nations.  I  now  commit  this 
work  to  Thee,  0  Lord.  Give  me  to  the  work.  I  go 
forth  in  Thy  strength;  may  it  be  perfected  in  my 
weakness. 


New  York,  Sabbath,  August  26th,  1827. 

Detained  at  home  by  slight  indisposition  and  bad 
weather.  Blessed  be  God,  he  is  not  confined  to  tem- 
ples made  with  hands,  but  dwelleth  with  them  that 
are  lowly  and  of  a  contrite  heart.  Is  my  heart  a  con- 
trite one  ?  Am  I  meek  and  lowly,  like  my  Master, 
whose  disciple  I  profess  to  be  ?  These  are  questions 
which  I  tremble  to  answer.  I  can  only  say  that  I 
aim  at  being  so;  but  I  am  like  the  rebellious  chil- 
dren of  Israel — when  in  prosperity  I  wax  fat  and 
kick,  but  when  the  Lord  sends  trouble,  and  I  have 


166  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

none  to  go  to  but  to  Him,  then,  literally,  when  He 
slays  me,  I  trust  in  Him.  I  feel  daily  that  it  is  not 
in  man  that  walketh  to  direct  his  steps ;  and  I  feel 
and  see,  more  and  more,  that  vain  is  the  help  of  man, 
even  the  best  of  them.  To  whom,  then,  can  I  go  ? 
Lord,  to  Thee  only,  for  Thou  only  hast  the  words 
of  eternal  life ;  to  Thee  belong  the  issues  of  life  and 
death.  In  the  day  of  perplexity  I  will  record  the 
precious  words  of  comfort  to  which  I  opened  yester- 
day, when  looking  for  comfort  and  counsel.  The  first 
I  lighted  on  was  Job,  v.,  verse  8  to  the  end,  marked 
by  my  beloved  husband's  hand  April,  1821.  Oh  how 
often  do  his  marks  meet  my  experience,  now  that  I 
am  left  alone  to  struggle  with  difficulties.  How 
meekly  did  he  bear  all  of  them.  How  often  did  he 
bear  the  contradictions,  not  only  of  sinners,  but  pro- 
fessed Christians.  But  now  all  his  trials  are  over  ; 
he  has  fought  the  good  fight,  and  (oh  bless  the  Lord, 

0  my  soul)  he  rests  from  his  labors,  and  his  works 
do  follow  him.  While  I  am  left  to  walk  the  same 
road,  oh  that  I  may  follow  him  as  he  followed  Christ. 
"Lord,  help  me,  or  I  perish,"  must  still  be  my  cry. 
Thou  seest  that  I  am  ready  to  give  up ;  that  I  sink 
in  deep  mire,  where  there  is  no  standing.  I  walk  in 
darkness,  and  have  no  light.  Lord,  lift  Thou  again 
the  light  of  Thy  reconciled  countenance  upon  me ; 
and  then,  notwithstanding  all  my  trials,  I  shall  have 
more  joy  than  they  whose  corn  and  wine  abound. 

I  would  again  seek  nnto  God,  and  unto  God  would 

1  commit  my  cause ;  which  doeth  great  things,  and 


MRS.  bethune's  weitings.  167 

and  unsearchable,  marvelous  things  without  number; 
who  giveth  rain  unto  the  earth,  and  sendeth  waters 
upon  the  fields,  to  set  up  on  high  those  that  be  low, 
that  those  that  mourn  may  be  exalted  to  safety. 

"  He  disappointeth  the  devices  of  the  crafty,  so 
that  their  hands  can  not  perform  their  enterprise; 
but  He  saveth  the  poor  from  the  sword,  from  their 
mouth,  and  from  the  hand  of  the  mighty.  So  the 
poor  hath  hope,  and  iniquity  stoppeth  her  mouth. 
Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  the  Lord  correct- 
eth :  therefore  despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of  the 
Almighty  ;  for  He  maketh  sore,  and  bindeth  up ;  He 
w^oundeth,  and  His  hands  make  whole.  He  shall  de- 
liver thee  in  six  troubles ;  yea,  in  seven  there  shall 
no  evil  touch  thee.  In  famine,  He  shall  redeem  thee 
from  death ;  and  in  war,  from  the  power  of  the  sword. 
Thou  shalt  be  hid  from  the  scourge  of  the  tongue;  nei- 
ther shalt  thou  be  afraid  of  destruction  when  it  com- 
eth.  And  thou  shalt  know  that  thy  tabernacle  shall 
be  in  peace ;  and  thou  shalt  visit  my  habitation,  and 
shall  not  sin.  Thou  shalt  know  also  that  thy  seed 
shall  be  great,  and  thine  offspring  as  the  grass  of  the 
earth.  Thou  shalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full  age, 
like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  in  his  season.  Lo 
this,  we  have  searched  it,  so  it  is ;  hear  it,  and  know 
thou  it  for  thy  good." 

O  Lord,  I  record  these  precious  passages  given  for 
the  comfort  of  Thy  servant  of  old,  and  left  on  record 
for  the  comfort  of  Thy  people  in  every  age.  I  de- 
sire to  believe  that  Thou  wilt  a^^ain  show  me  the 


168  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

way  wliereia  I  should  walk ;  that,  although  I  know 
not  now,  yet  I  shall  hereafter,  wherefore  Thou  con- 
tendest  with  me ;  that,  when  this  affliction  has  an- 
swered the  purpose  for  which  it  was  sent,  that  Thou 
wilt  give  me  the  victory  over  all  my  enemies,  spirit- 
ual and  temporal.  I  have  often  said,  and  now  again 
confess,  that,  shouldst  Thou  take  all  my  comforts 
away,  Thou  canst  do  me  no  wrong.  I  do  not  de- 
serve the  least  of  Thy  mercies ;  yet,  for  Thine  own 
name's  sake,  deliver  Thine  own  handmaid  in  this  day 
of  perplexity ;  that  the  heathen  that  are  left  round 
about  us  may  see  and  know  that  it  is  no  vain  thing 
to  serve  the  Lord,  and  that  the  seed  of  Thy  servant 
now  with  Thee  in  glory  are  of  the  seed  which  the 
Lord  hath  blessed ;  that,  when  the  wicked  would 
enter  the  field  of  the  fatherless,  "  their  Redeemer  is 
mighty,  and  will  plead  their  cause."  Plead  our  cause, 
O  Lord,  and  "establish  the  border  of  the  widow." 
O  let  the  memory  of  my  beloved  husband  be  pre- 
cious in  Thy  sight,  and  Thy  kind,  protecting  care  of 
his  widow  and  fatherless  family  encourage  many  to 
give  of  their  substance  to  protect  Thy  cause  in  the 
earth.  Lord,  remember  Thy  promise,  "He  that  giveth 
to  the  poor  lendeth  to  the  Lord,"  and  "that  which 
he  giveth  will  He  repay  him  again."  "Honor  the 
Lord  with  thy  substance,  and  with  the  first-fruits  of 
all  thine  increase ;  so  shall  thy  barns  be  filled  with 
plenty,  and  thy  presses  burst  forth  with  new  wine." 
We  have  always  had  plenty,  and  Thou  hast  never 
yet  laid  famine  upon  us#   We  have  ever  eaten  our 


MKS.  bethune's  writings.  169 

own  bread  (what  the  world  calls  ours),  and  have  owed 
no  man  any  thing  but  love.  And  now  I  come  to 
Thee,  my  God,  with  the  same  words  I  went  to  Thee 
when  first  I  was  left  alone — ever  Thine  own  precious 
promise:  "In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  God,  and 
He  will  direct  Thy  paths."  I  again  commit  my  way 
unto  Thee,  "trusting  that  Thou  wilt  bring,  it  to  pass." 
I  again  cast  my  burden  on  the  Lord ;  do  Thou  sus- 
tain it.  I  again  look  unto  the  hills  from  whence 
Cometh  my  aid.  My  safety  cometh  from  the  Lord, 
who  made  heaven  and  earth.  As  the  eyes  of  a  serv- 
ant are  unto  the  hand  of  his  master,  and  as  the  eyes 
of  a  maiden  unto  the  hand  of  her  mistress,  so  my  eyes 
wait  upon  the  Lord  my  God,  until  He  have  mercy 
upon  me.  Have  mercy  upon  me ;  0  Lord,  have  mer- 
cy upon  me,  for  I  am  exceedingly  filled  with  con- 
tempt. My  soul  is  exceedingly  filled  with  the  scorn- 
ing of  those  that  are  at  ease,  and  with  the  contempt 
of  the  proud.  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  has  not  yet 
given  me  a  prey  to  their  teeth.  If  it  had  not  been 
the  Lord  who  was  on  our  side,  when  men  rose  up 
against  us,  then  they  had  swallowed  us  up  quick, 
when  their  wrath  was  kindled  against  us.  Then,  in 
days  that  are  past,  the  waters  had  overwhelmed  us, 
the  stream  had  gone  over  our  soul.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  (who  did  not  then,  and,  I  trust,  will  not  now), 
give  us  a  prey  to  their  teeth ;  but,  as  our  souls  escaped, 
as  a  bird  out  of  the  snares  of  the  fowler — the  snares 
were  broken,  and  we  escaped — so,  0  Lord,  may  I  now 
escape  from  the  snares  laid  for  me.     May  my  soul 

H 


170  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

escape,  and  the  snare  be  broken.     My  help  is  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  who  made  heaven  and  earth. 

The  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower ;  the  right- 
eous runneth  into  it  and  are  safe.  I  this  day  take 
refuge  in  that  tower.  I  desire  to  trust  in  the  Lord, 
pleading  His  promise  that  I  shall  be  as  Mount  Zion, 
which  can  not  be  removed,  but  abideth  forever; 
''  that,  as  the  mountains  are  round  about  Jerusalem, 
so  the  Lord  is  round  about  His  people  from  hence- 
forth, even  forever ;"  for  the  rod  of  the  wicked  shall 
not  rest  upon  the  righteous,  lest  the  righteous  ^:>i(^ 
forth  their  hand  imto  iniquity.  I  now  leave  myself 
in  Thy  hands.  Guide  me  with  Thy  counsel.  May 
I  hear  a  voice  behind  me,  saying,  "  This  is  the  way ; 
walk  ye  in  it."  I  record  this  day  that,  if  the  Lord 
deliver  me  from  the  snares  laid  for  me,  and  disap- 
point the  devices  of  the  crafty  —  if  the  Lord  will 
plead  the  cause  of  the  fatherless,  and  establish  the 
border  of  the  widow,  it  will  be  by  His  own  might 
alone,  and  of  His  own  good  mercy,  and  entirely  un- 
merited by  me  or  mine.  For  His  own  name's  sake 
will  He  do  it,  and  He  only  shall  have  the  praise,  and 
shall  be  honored  with  the  first-fruits  of  the  increase, 
if  increase  there  be.  And  if,  in  His  adorable  provi- 
dence. He  sees  fit  to  deny  my  request,  and  for  a  time 
permit  the  wicked  to  triumph,  I  will  yet  look  again 
unto  His  holy  temple.  I  leave  myself  and  mine  in 
His  hands;  let  Him  do  what  seemeth  Him  good; 
let  Him  visit  our  sins  with  chastisement,  and  our  in- 
iquities with  rods ;  but,  if  He  take  not  from  us  His 


171 

loving-kindness,  nor  alter  the  word  which  He  has 
spoken,  and  in  which  I  trast^  all  will  be  well,  and  He 
shall  have  the  praise.  We  shall  all  rejoice  at  last — 
no  wanderer  lost — a  family  in  heaven. 

"A  few  more  rolling  seas,  at  most, 
"Will  land  me  on  fair  Canaan's  coast, 
"Where  I  shall  sing  my  song  of  grace. 
And  see  my  glorious  Hiding-place." 

Let  me  not  forget  to  acknowledge  the  goodness  of 
God  to  my  beloved  son,  for  whom  the  Lord  has  done 
great  things,  whereof  my  heart  is  glad.  All  the 
prayers  of  his  dear  father  seem  now  answered,  even 
to  "  a  contented  mind."  He  seems  to,  and  I  trust  he 
does^  lay  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin  that  most 
easily  besets  him,  and  ran  with  patience  the  race  set 
before  him.  He  is  now  content  to  take  charge  of  a 
country  congregation,  with  a  small  salary.  Oh  what 
would  I  not  have  given,  some  years  since,  for  the  as- 
surance of  what  I  now  see !  His  dear  father  was  not 
permitted  to  see  it,  although  he  died  in  the  faith  of 
it.  And  now  it  would  again  seem  that,  respecting 
my  beloved  children,  I  have  not  a  wish  ungratified. 
The  Lord  has  granted  all  my  petitions,  and  shall  I 
murmur  at  the  loss  of  a  little  yellow  dross,  and  shrink 
from  a  trial  which  only  affects  worldly  property? 
Nay ;  rather  let  me  rejoice  that  I  have  not  my  por- 
tion in  this  world.  Be  with  the  dear  youth  this  day, 
heavenly  Father ;  give  him  to  feed  Thy  flock ;  make 
him  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  and 
give  him  souls  for  hire,  and  make  him  content  with 
his  wages. 


172  MKS.  bethune's  wkitings. 


Friday,  October  19th,  1827. 

This  evening  is  set  apart  for  the  ordination  of  my 
beloved  son  to  the  ministry  of  reconciliation ;  and  all 
the  prayers  put  up  for  him  by  his  dear  father  and 
grandmother  are  about  to  be  answered  in  the  very 
spot  where  his  father  and  I  offered  him  to  the  Lord 
in  the  sacrament  of  baptism,  devoting  him  not  only 
to  God  as  his  servant,  but,  with  full  jDurpose  of  heart, 
we,  like  Hannah,  lent  him  to  the  Lord  all  the  days 
of  his  life.  For  this  child  we  prayed ;  therefore,  also, 
lent  we  him  to  the  Lord ;  as  long  as  he  liveth  shall 
he  be  lent  to  the  Lord ;  and  now,  behold,  he  worships 
the  Lord  there^  even  in  the  very  spot  where  the  loan 
was  made,  and  now  the  resting-place  of  the  remains 
of  his  dear,  dear  father  and  grandmother.  He  deliv- 
ers there  his  last  trial  discourse,  and  passes  his  last 
examination. 

My  heart  rejoiceth  in  the  Lord,  my  horn  is  exalted 
in  the  Lord,  my  mouth  is  enlarged  over  mine  ene- 
mies, because  I  rejoice  in  Thy  salvation.  There  is 
none  holy  like  the  Lord,  for  there  is  none  beside 
Thee,  neither  is  there  any  rock  like  our  God.  Talk 
no  more  so  exceeding  proudly;  let  not  arrogancy 
come  out  of  your  mouth,  for  the  Lord  is  a  God  of 
knowledge,  and  by  Him  actions  are  weighed.  The 
bands  of  the  mighty  men  are  broken,  and  they  that 
stumbled  are  girded  with  strength.  The  Lord  kill- 
eth  and  maketh  alive;  He  bringeth  down  to  the 
grave  and  bringeth  up.     The  Lord  maketh  poor  and 


MKS.  bethune's  writings.  173 

maketh  ricTi;  He  bringeth  low  and  lifteth  up;  for 
the  pillars  of  the  earth  are  the  Lord's,  and  he  hath 
set  the  world  upon  them.  He  will  keep  the  feet  of 
His  saints,  and  the  wicked  shall  be  silent  in  darkness, 
for  by  strength  shall  no  man  prevail.  The  adversa- 
ries of  the  Lord  shall  be  broken  in  pieces;  out  of 
heaven  shall  be  thunder  upon  them.  The  Lord  shall 
judge  the  ends  of  the  earth;  and  He  shall  give 
strength  to  His  king,  and  exalt  the  horn  of  His 
anointed.  Amen.  Even  so.  Lord  Jesus !  do  as  Thou 
hast  said.  Thou  hast  heard  and  answered  all  our 
prayers  for  this  dear  son ;  and  although  Thou  hast 
permitted  me  only  to  view  the  affecting  scene  of  his 
ordination  on  earth,  I  trust  the  dear  departed  will 
view  it  from  heaven.  Happy,  happy  husband,  thou 
restest  from  thy  labors,  and  witnessest  the  answer  to 
thy  prayers  in  thy  dear  son,  and  no  longer,  like  thy 
bereaved  widow,  strugglest  with  a  body  of  sin  and 
death.  Thou  art  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troub- 
ling and  where  the  weary  are  at  rest.  Happy,  happy 
mother,  the  mournful  days  of  thy  widowhood  are 
over,  and  so  mine  will  soon  be.  Oh  to  be  faithful 
unto  death,  that  I  also  may  receive  a  crown  of  life. 
Lord,  look  on  Thy  sinful  worm !  I  am  feeble  and 
helpless  in  myself,  insufficient  for  the  numerous  du- 
ties assigned  me  in  Thy  providence,  and  to  struggle 
against  the  devices  of  the  wicked  and  those  that 
would  swallow  me  up.  Thou  didst  carry  those  dear 
relatives  through  their  weary  pilgrimage — wast  their 
pillar  of  cloud  by  day  and  their  pillar  of  fire  by  night. 


174  MKS.  bethune's  writings.  . 

Thou  didst  guide  them  by  Thy  counsel  here,  and 
Thou  hast  now  received  them  to  Thy  glory.  Now 
be  to  me  as  to  them.  I  would  not  take  a  step  without 
Thee.  O  continue  to  hold  me  by  Thy  right  hand, 
and  let  my  enemies  see  that  Thou  art  still  the  God 
of  the  family  of  the  dear  departed  saints  who  trusted 
in  Thee,  and  see  the  great  goodness  which  Thou  hast 
laid  up  for  them  that  fear  Thee — which  Thou  hast 
wrought  for  them  that  trust  in  Thee  before  the  sons 
of  men,  and  that  we  are  of  the  seed  which  the  Lord 
hast  planted.  Thou  hast  completely  weaned  me  from 
trusting  in  man.  Lover  and  friend  hast  Thou  put 
far  from  me,  and  my  acquaintance  in  darkness ;  but 
the  Lord  still  reigns ;  blessed  be  my  Eock ! 

I  come  now,  as  I  have  often  before,  to  devote  my- 
self, my  family^  my  substance,  my  talents  to  Thy  serv- 
ice. 0  fulfill  Thy  gracious  promise,  that  if  we  ac- 
knowledge Thee  in  all  our  ways,  Thou  wilt  direct 
our  steps.  0  let  not  my  enemies  triumph  over  me ; 
hide  me  from  the  scourge  of  the  tongue ;  and  oh,  set 
a  watch  upon  my  lips,  that  I  offend  not  with  my 
tongue.  Deliver  me.  Lord,  from  my  besetting  sin; 
and  may  I  see  that  when  my  ways  please  the  Lord 
He  will  make  the  very  stones  to  be  at  peace  with  me. 

Bless  my  feeble  efforts  to  promote  the  cause  of  my 
dear  Eedeemer  in  the  different  institutions  in  which 
I  am  engaged.  Bless,  especially,  the  Infant  School 
Society.  Give  us.  Lord,  the  means  to  rescue  thou- 
sands from  being  trained  up  in  the  road  that  leads  to 
perdition.     O  may  the  time  be  now  come  when  Thou 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  175 

shalt  "teach  knowledge  and  doctrine  to  them  "who  are 
drawn  from  the  breasts  and  weaned  from  the  milk." 
Why,  0  Lord,  dost  Thou  honor"  me  in  such  noble  and 
pleasant  work?  Lord,  Thou  knowest  all  things,  and 
Thou  knowest  that  I  love  Thee,  therefore  I  love  to 
"feed  thy  lambs."  Bless  and  fit  for  the  work  our 
teachers.  Animate  all  our  managers  to  diligence  in 
procuring  funds,  and  give  favor  with  those  to  whom 
Thou  hast  intrusted  Thy  silver  and  Thy  gold.  Give 
us  continually  our  daily  bread,  strength  for  present 
duty,  and  money  for  present  need,  for  this  and  other 
institutions. 

Accompany,  0  Lord,  with  Thy  blessing,  the  few 
Bibles  and  tracts  sent  to  the  West.  Look  in  mercy 
on  my  poor  agent,  who  is  troubled  how  to  provide  a 
competence  for  this  life,  and  yet  indifferent  about 
making  provision  for  a  life  to  come.  Bless  the  read- 
ing of  the  tracts  to  him,  especially  the  Life  of  Colonel 
Gardiner,  which  he  said  he  would  reserve  for  himself. 
I  again  look  to  Thee  to  be  with  us  all  this  evening. 
Give  to  my  son  George  to  pass  through  his  exercises 
acceptably  to  the  Presbytery,  and  give  to  Mr.  M 'Car- 
tee  what  he  shall  say  to  him  in  his  charge ;  and  may 
believing  parents  have  their  hearts  encouraged  this 
night  to  devote  their  offspring  with  the  same  simple, 
5^et  strong  faith,  with  which  his  dear  sainted  father 
devoted  him.  May  this  be  a  reviving  time  to  our 
whole  family.  Revive  Thy  work  in  the  hearts  of 
my  beloved  daughters.  Make  them  faithful  to  their 
children.     And  bless,  also,  my  sons-in-law.     Make 


176 

tliem  contented  with  the  allotments  of  Thy  provi- 
dence. Let  them  feed  the  flocks  of  Christ  over  which 
Thou  hast  placed  them,  and  let  them  not  be  given  to 
change.  And  oh,  my  Benjamin,  my  youngest  child 
and  only  son,  look  upon  him  in  his  present  responsi- 
ble situation.  Make  him  all  that  his  father  prayed 
he  should  be,  and  all  that  Thou  wouldst  have  him  to 
be  as  Thy  ministering  servant.  Bless  his  dear  wife. 
May  she  be  a  help-meet  to  him  ;  and  when  the  yearn- 
ing heart  of  his  mother  is  cold  in  the  grave,  may  he 
enjoy  in  Thee  a  counselor  and  support  in  all  the  tri- 
als Thou  shalt  see  fit  to  send  him ;  for  I  know  that 
through  much  tribulation  he  (as  all  Thy  people)  must 
enter  the  kingdom. 


Saturday,  October  20th,  1827. 
Another  great  work  is  done,  and  the  prayers  of  the 
departed  saints,  the  father  and  grandmother  of  this 
family,  answered  in  the  dear  youth,  the  only  son  of 
his  mother,  and  she  now  a  desolate  widow.  Last 
evening  George  Bethune  was  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  by  the  laying  on  the  hands  of 
the  Presbytery,  as  appointed  by  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church,  1  Timothy,  iv.,  14.  0  gracious  God,  man 
can  do  little,  nay,  man  can  do  nothing,  but  Thou  canst, 
and  I  trust  Thou  wilt,  with  the  form,  give  the  thing 
signified.  Let  Thy  Spirit  witness  with  his  spirit  that 
he  is  chosen  of  Thee,  and  the  gift  that  is  in  him  by 
prophecy  with  the  laying  on  the  hands  of  the  Pres- 


177 

byterj.  0  let  no  man  despise  his  youth,  but  may  he 
be  an  example  of  the  believers  in  word,  in  conversa- 
tion, in  charity,  in  spirit,  in  faith,  in  purity;  giving 
attendance  to  reading,  to  explanation,  to  doctrine. 
May  he  meditate  upon  these  things,  give  himself 
wholly  "to  them,  that  his  profiting  may  appear  to 
all.  May  he  take  heed  unto  himself,  and  unto  the 
doctrine,  and  continue  in  them,  for  in  doing  this  he 
shall  both  save  himself  and  them  that  hear  him." 
0  Lord,  hear  this  my  prayer,  indited,  I  trust,  by  Thy 
Spirit,  and  from  Thine  own  Word.  Take  this  youth 
into  Thine  own  hand ;  carry  him  to  the  people  who 
have  chosen  him  for  their  pastor  "  in  the  fullness  of 
the  blessing  of  the  Grospel  of  Christ.  And  may  the 
God  of  peace  be  wiLh  him  and  abide  with  him." 
Amen !  Only  the  Lord  establish  His  Word,  and  we 
shall  all  rejoice  either  on  earth  or  in  heaven  over  this 
chosen  vessel.  I  would  also  remember  before  Thee 
the  dear  brethren,  thy  servants,  who  laid  their  hands 
on  the  head  of  Thy  youthful  servant.  Lord,  reward 
those  who  took  part  in  the  exercise,  and  all  who  as- 
sisted in  this  labor  of  love.  May  their  own  souls  be 
comforted  and  encouraged  to  devote  themselves  and 
their  offspring  to  Thee,  seeing  how  faithful  Thou  art 
to  Thine  own  promise.  0  spare  their  lives  to  the 
people  of  their  charge.  Restore  to  health  such  as  are 
weakened  in  body  by  reason  of  their  labors.  Thy 
dear  servant,  Dr.  Knox,  0  spare  him  to  Thy  Church 
and  his  family.  Bless  the  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Pearl  Street ;  make  him  eminently  useful  to  that  peo- 
H2 


178  i^iRS.  bethune's  weitings. 

pie.  May  the  memory  of  the  j  ust  be  blessed  there, 
and  may  their  memorial  encourage  others  to  follow 
them  as  they  followed  Christ.  As  they  have  now 
witnessed  the  great  goodness  which  Thou  hast  laid 
up  for  them  that  fear  Thee,  which  Thou  hast  wrought 
for  them  that  trust  in  Thee  before  the  sons  of  men. 
My  record  and  my  prayer  are  with  Thee,  O  God  of 
my  salvation,  my  Father,  my  Mother,  my  Husband, 
my  Savior,  my  blessed  High-Priest,  who  art  touched 
with  a  feeling  of  my  infirmities,  and  my  Sanctifier ! 
the  blessed  Spirit,  who  comforts  me  in  all  my  afflic- 
tions, whose  consolations  are  neither  few  nor  small. 
To  the  Triune  Jehovah  be  praises  now  and  for  ever- 
more.    Amen. 

Halleluiah,  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reign eth. 
Let  the  earth  be  glad ;  yea,  let  the  whole  earth  be 
filled  with  His  glory. 

"Glory  to  God  the  Father's  name, 
Who,  from  our  sinful  race, 
Chose  out  his  people  to  proclaim 
The  honors  of  Thy  grace. 

' '  Glory  to  God  the  Son  be  praise, 
Who  dwelt  in  humble  clay, 
And,  to  redeem  us  from  the  dead, 
Gave  His  own  life  away. 

"  Glory  to  God  the  Spirit  give, 
From  whose  almighty  power 
Our  souls  their  heavenly  birth  derive. 
And  bless  the  happy  hour. 

"Glory  to  God  that  reigns  above, 
Th'  eternal  Three  in  One, 
Who,  by  the  wonders  of  His  love, 
Has  made  His  nature  known." 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  179 


February  1st,  1829,  my  birthday. 

I  now  complete  my  fifty-ninth  year — within  one 
of  threescore  years,  and  within  thirteen  of  the  age  at 
which  my  mother  took  her  -departure.  From  my 
present  delicate  state  of  health,  I  do  not  expect  to  at- 
tain to  her  age.  My  only  desire  is — which  also  was 
hers — that  I  may  be  permitted  to  be  useful  and  active 
in  my  Master's  service  while  I  live,  and  not  to  be 
laid  aside  and  become  a  burden  to  myself  and  others 
— but  this  last  I  ask  with  submission ;  whatever  lot 
my  God  has  assigned  me  while  still  in  the  wilderness, 
I  know  His  grace  will  be  sufficient,  and  "as  my  day, 
so  shall  my  strength  be."  I  have,  in  common  with 
my  dear  mother,  often  a  fearful  shrinking  at  the  pros- 
pect of  the  last  struggle  which  shall  separate  my  im- 
mortal soul  from  her  companion  the  body;  and  I 
would  ask,  and  have  asked  my  Lord  to  carry  me 
through  the  dark  valley  in  the  same  peaceful,  undis- 
turbed manner  as  He  did  my  dear  mother  and  dear 
husband. 

O  Thou  Hearer  and  Answerer  of  prayer,  hear  and 
vouchsafe  to  grant  an  answer  of  peace  to  my  prayer 
this  day.  Look  upon  Thine  unworthy  dust  now  be- 
fore Thee,  not  as  she  is  in  herself,  but  as  one  of  Thy 
ransomed  ones,  by  the  blood  of  Thy  Son  Jesus  Christ, 
my  Savior.  Through  His  merits  alone  I  must  be 
saved,  and  for  His  merits  alone  I  plead  for  acceptance 
with  Thee,  and  the  answer  of  my  prayers.  Were  I 
to  be  permitted  only  to  come  in  my  own  name,  and 


180  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

offer  my  own  good  works  as  an  atonement  for  my 
sins,  I  would  not  dare  to  lift  my  face  to  tlie  place 
where  Thine  Honor  dwelleth.  I  can  not  look  with 
complacency  on  any  thing  I  have  done,  for  my  very 
best  services  have  been  polluted  by  sin,  and  my  right- 
eousness I  have  desired  to  consider  as  filthy  rags. 
Neither  could  I  answer  for  one  of  ten  thousand  of  my 
transgressions.  These,  with  my  few  attempts  to  honor 
Thee,  I  lay  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross,  and  look  to  Thee 
for  the  salvation  of  my  immortal  part,  and  the  resur- 
rection of  my  body  at  the  last  day,  as  the  purchase, 
the  dear-houglit  imrcliase  of  my  dear  Kedeemer.  He 
laid  down  His  life  as  a  ransom  for  many.  Among 
those,  0  Lord,  grant  that  my  name  may  be  included. 
He  wrought  out  a  perfect  righteousness  for  His  peo- 
ple. O  Lord,  grant  that  I  may  be  clothed  with  that 
robe.  He  drank  the  bitter  cup  of  Thy  just  indigna- 
tion for  sin.  0  Lord,  grant  that  I  may  have,  as  His 
purchase,  the  cup  of  blessing  put  into  my  hand.  He 
conquered  death  and  the  grave.  0  Lord,  grant  that 
I  may  obtain  the  victory  through  Him.  He  passed 
through  the  dark  valley  that  He  might  dispel  the 
gloom,  and  make  the  passage  safe  for  His  people. 
O  then  grant,  most  merciful  Grod,  that  when  I  come 
to  tread  the  dark  valley  I  may  fear  no  evil,  but  find 
Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff  supporting  me,  and  experience 
Thy  sustaining  power,  and  be  enabled  to  say,  "  Oh 
Death,  where  is  thy  sting?  oh  Grave,  where  is  thy 
victory  ?  The  sting  of  death  is  sin,  and  the  strength 
of  sin  is  the  law ;  but  thanks  be  unto  God,  which 


MES.  bethune's  writings.  181 

givetli  us  the' victory  tlirough  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
Therefore,  my  God,  Father,  Sou,  and  blessed  Spirit, 
grant  that  my  sins  may  be  atoned  for,  and  my  duty 
filled  by  Christ,  my  Surety,  that  I  may  have  accept- 
ance with  Thee,  and  that  the  Holy  Spirit  may  con- 
tinually take  of  the  things  which  are  Christ's  and 
show  them  unto  me,  and  pour  into  my  soul  those 
consolations  which  Thy  redeemed  ones  only  experi- 
ence— which  the  world,  with  all  its  enjoyments,  can 
not  give,  and  which  (oh  transporting  thought)  it  can 
not  take  away.  Grrant,  while  I  remain  below,  that, 
by  Thy  grace  assisting  me,  I  may  be  steadfast,  im- 
movable, always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord ; 
forasmuch  as  I  know,  if  all  be  done  with  a  view  to 
Thy  glory,  and  from  life  imparted  by  Thee,  my  la- 
bor shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  And  when  I 
shall  have  accomplished,  as  an  hireling,  my  day,  O 
grant  that  at  evening-time  it  may  be  light.  When 
laid  on  my  death-bed,  O  do  Thou  make  it ;  place 
under  me  the  everlasting  arms,  and  the  eternal  God 
Himself  be  my  refuge.  0  lift  upon  me  in  that  day 
the  light  of  Thy  reconciled  countenance ;  let  not  the 
adversary  have  power  to  molest  me ;  and,  as  I  have 
no  mother  and  no  tender  husband  to  smooth  my  dy- 
ing pillow,  do  Thou  Thyself  be  better  to  me  than 
mother  or  father,  brother  or  sister,  yea,  than  husband 
— for  Thou  condescendcst  to  be  my  Husband — and 
may  I  hear  Thy  voice,  O  merciful  High-Priest  and 
Forerunner,  saying,  "  Fear  not,  I  am  with  thee ;  be 
not  dismayed,  for  I  am  thy  God." 


182  MES.  bethuxe's  writings. 

* '  Do  Thou  Thyself  then  stand  me  by, 
And  every  needful  aid  supply ; 
Only  to  me  Thy  count'nance  show, 
I  ask  no  more  the  journey  through." 

These  requests  for  my  last  trying  hour  I  record 
and  leave  on  the  table  of  Thy  covenant  this  day, 
when  I  enter  on  my  sixtieth  year.  O  my  Eedeemer, 
I  present  them  in  Thy  name.  Plead  for  me,  and  send 
Thy  Holy  Spirit  to  witness  with  my  spirit  that  I  am 
Thine.     Amen.     Come,  Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly. 

Texts  chosen  this  day,  with  the  words  of  which  I 
pray  the  Lord  to  comfort  me  during  the  next  year,  or 
that  part  of  it  I  may  live,  and  be  permitted  to  labor 
in  His  vineyard:  Psalm  xxxvii.,  23-25;  Ixxi.,  7-9: 
"  The  steps  of  a  good  man  are  ordered  by  the  Lord, 
and  he  delighteth  in  his  way.  Though  he  fall,  he 
shall  not  be  utterly  cast  down,  for  the  Lord  uphold- 
eth  him  with  His  right  hand.  I  have  been  young, 
and  now  am  old ;  yet  have  I  not  seen  the  righteous 
forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging  bread."  ''  I  am  as  a 
wonder  unto  many ;  but  Thou  art  my  strong  refuge. 
Let  my  mouth  be  filled  with  Thy  praise  and  with 
Thy  honor  all  the  day.  Cast  me  not  off  in  the  time 
of  old  age ;  forsake  me  not  when  my  strength  faileth. 
O  God,  Thou  hast  taught  me  from  my  youth,  and 
hitherto  I  have  declared  Thy  wondrous  works.  Now 
also,  when  I  am  old  and  gray-headed,  forsake  me 
not."  "  Hearken  unto  me,  O  house  of  Jacob,  and  all 
the  remnant  of  the  house  of  Israel.  Even  to  your 
old  age  I  am  He ;  and  even  to  hoar  hairs  will  I  car- 


183 

Tj  you :  I  have  made,  and  I  will  bear ;  even  I  will 
carry  yon  and  deliver  you."  "The  righteous  shall 
flourish  as  the  palm-tree ;  he  shall  grow  like  a  cedar 
in  Lebanon.  Those  that  he  planted  in  the  house  of 
the  Lord  shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our  God. 
They  shall  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age;  they  shall 
be  fat  and  flourishing;  to  show  that  good  and  up- 
right is  the  Lord:  He  is  my  Kock,  and  there  is  no 
unrighteousness  in  Him."  "  He  that  dwelleth  in  the 
secret  place  of  the  Most  High  shall  abide  under  the 
shadow  of  the  Almighty.  I  will  say  of  the  Lord,  He 
is  my  refuge  and  my  fortress — my  God ;  in  Him  will 
I  trust.  Because  thou  hast  made  the  Lord  which  is 
my  refuge,  even  the  Most  High,  thy  habitation,  there 
shall  no  evil  befall  thee,  neither  shall  any  plague  come 
nigh  thy  dwelling ;  for  He  shall  give  His  angels  charge 
over  thee  to  bear  thee  in  all  thy  ways." 


New  York,  February  6th,  1831. 

Blessed  be  God  that  He  has  put  it  into  the  hearts 
of  some  of  His  servants  to  make  the  attempt  to  re- 
claim the  moral  waste  at  the  Five  Points.  0  Lord, 
hear  and  answer  the  prayers  put  up  by  Thy  servants 
for  the  wretched  inhabitants,  and  fulfill,  blessed  Ee- 
deemer,  Thine  own  saying,  when  Thou  didst  dwell 
in  human  flesh.  Publicans  and  harlots  go  into  the 
kingdom,  when  God  has  purposes  of  mercy  toward 
them,  before  many  proud  professors  and  formal  hyp- 
ocrites.    But,  0  my  God,  bless  and  further  the  work 


18-i  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

of  education  among  the  young.  Let  not  race  after 
race  be  trained  to  be  rods  in  Thy  hand,  to  visit  our 
neglect  upon  our  children  and  children's  children. 
May  we  soon  see  an  edifice  rising  in  that  quarter, 
where  all  the  youth,  from  the  babe  to  the  youth  of 
sixteen,  shall  be  trained  up  in  the  nurture  and  admo- 
nition of  the  Lord,  and  witness  them  not  departing 
from  it  when  they  are  old.  Bless  the  attempts  mak- 
ing by  Thy  servants  to  restore  the  wandering  and 
reclaim  the  vicious.  May  we,  who  claim  the  privi- 
lege of  being  called  Thy  people,  and  have  professed 
Thy  name,  feel  that  we  must  accomplish,  as  an  hire- 
ling, our  day;  that  we  must  work  while  it  is  day, 
seeing  the  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can  work ; 
and  may  we  all  ask  what  Thou  wouldst  have  us  to 
do,  and  do  our  work  diligently,  not  as  an  hireling  or 
a  slave,  but  from  love  and  gratitude  to  Him  who  has 
purchased  our  freedom  with  His  own  life,  and  fulfill- 
ed the  law  in  our  stead,  that  henceforth  there  might 
be  no  condemnation  for  us.  Oh,  who  that  have  ex- 
perienced "  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  their 
hearts" — that  enjoy  "that  peace  that  passes  all  un- 
derstanding," and  feel  "  that  liberty  wherewith  Christ 
makes  His  people  free,"  dare  stand  back,  and  not 
seek  the  honor  of  being  employed  in  advancing  the 
Lord's  cause  ?  Why  do  we  not  feel  more  like  the 
man  after  God's  own  heart,  who  would  rather  have 
been  a  door-kee^^er  in  the  house  of  his  God  than 
dwell  in  the  tents  of  wickedness  ?  Lord,  Thou  must 
work  in  us  to  will  and  to  do  of  Thy  good  pleasure, 


185 

or  we  never  will.  Tliou  must  begin,  Thou  must  car- 
ry on,  and  Thou  must  finish  every  good  work.  All 
that  we  can  do  is  to  ask  Thee  what  Thou  wouldst 
have  us  to  do — make  the  attempt,  when  Thou  hast 
made  the  path  of  duty  plain,  and  plead  Thy  promise 
to  direct  our  steps ;  and,  when  we  have  done  all  that 
is  possible,  acknowledge  and  feel  ourselves  unprofit- 
able servants.  0  Lord,  rouse  us  to  the  work ;  grant 
us  strength  according  to  our  day,  and  grace  accord- 
ing to  our  need;  and  suffer  me  to  plead  for  Thy 
blessing  on  the  dear  orphan  family ;  pardon  my  late 
neglect  of  it.  I  ought  not  to  be  so  engrossed  with 
one  duty  as  to  neglect  another.  0  Lord,  let  not  my 
sins  be  visited  upon  any  of  these  fatherless  and  moth- 
erless children.  Many  others  have  been  more  faith- 
ful than  I  have  been ;  and  may  we  witness  the  seed 
sown  in  their  young  hearts  springing  up,  and  bring- 
ing forth  fruit,  some  sixty  and  some  a  hundred  fold. 
Carry  t>n  the  good  work  in  the  hearts  of  some  where 
Thou  appearest  to  have  begun  it.  Perfect  that  in 
the  hearts  of  those  who  have  professed  Thy  name, 
and  begin  it  in  the  hearts  of  all  now  under  our  care ; 
yea.  Lord,  bless  and  keep  Thy  good  hand  about  all 
who  have  been  under  our  care — all  now,  and  all  that 
may  hereafter  be  benefited  by  this  charity.  Let  not 
the  place  there  be  dry,  when  Thy  dew  is  now  de- 
scending on  all  around.  Take  these  lambs,  blessed 
Savior,  in  Thine  arms;  carry  them  in  Thy  bosom; 
and,  while  Thou  permittest  us.  Thine  unworthy  hand- 
maids, to  feed  and  clothe  the  perishing  body,  do  Thou, 


186 

by  Thy  "Word  and  ordinance,  feed  their  never-dying 
souls.  Bless  the  superintendents  and  teachers ;  make 
them  more  faithful  than  they  have  been ;  may  they 
remember  that  they  ought  to  watch  for  these  souls 
as  those  that  must  give  an  account.  Lord,  I  desire 
to  read  my  sin  in  my  punishment  in  a  recent  trying 
circumstance.  How  many  lessons  Thou  hast  given 
me  to  cease  from  man,  yet  how  slow  I  am  to  learn ! 
How  many  broken  reeds  have  given  way  when  I 
have  attempted  to  lean  upon  the  creature !  How 
many  spears  of  earth  have  pierced  me  to  the  heart ! 

How  hast  Thou  dried  my  streams  of  earthly  joy, 
that  I  might  seek  my  all  in  Thee ;  yea,  even  dashed 
in  pieces  my  very  broken  cisterns,  to  turn  me  to  the 
Eock  of  Ages  and  the  fountain  of  living  waters. 
Lord,  restore  Thy  wandering  sheep.  May  all  Thy 
providences  have  a  language  truly  to  be  understood. 
"  Cease  ye  from  man,  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils; 
for  wherein  is  he  to  be  accounted  of?"  Ful^l  Thy 
gracious  promises  to  me,  0  Lord.  "  Then  will  I 
sprinkle  clean  water  upon  you,  and  ye  shall  be  clean; 
from  all  your  filthiness  and  from  all  your  idols  will  I 
cleanse  you.  A  new  heart  will  I  give  you,  and  a 
new  spirit  will  I  j^ut  within  you,  and  cause  you  to 
walk  in  my  statutes ;  and  ye  shall  keep  my  judgments, 
and  do  them ;  and  ye  shall  dwell  in  the  land  that  I 
gave  to  your  fathers ;  and  ye  shall  be  my  people,  and 
I  will  be  your  God."  Lord,  fulfill  the  above.  Ena- 
ble me  to  repent,  and  do  the  first  works.  O  make 
me  and  my  fatherless  family  Thy  people,  and  do 


MES.  bethune's  writings.  187 

Thou,  indeed,  be  our  God,  and  what  more  do  we,  can 
we  want  ?  Whom  have  we,  in  heaven  or  on  earth, 
that  we  should  desire  beside  Thee?  None^  Lord. 
Thou  only  hast  been,  and  ever  will  be,  the  never- 
failing  portion  of  Thy  people,  and  Thy  tender  mer- 
cies are  over  all  Thy  works. 

And,  0  my  compassionate  Master,  at  this  season 
of  revival  in  this  city,  remember,  with  that  love  which 
Thou  bearest  to  Thine  own  people,  the  descendants 
of  Thy  widowed  handmaid.  0  may  these  children 
be  made  willing,  in  a  day  of  Thy  power,  to  give  Thee 
their  hearts  in  the  morning  of  their  days.  May  they 
no  longer  halt  between  two  opinions,  but  be  determ- 
ined that,  whatever  others  do,  they  will  serve  the 
Lord. 

Lord,  forsake  me  not  now,  when  I  am  old  and  gray- 
headed.  I  know  Thou  wilt  not.  Goodness  and  mer- 
cy have  followed  me  all  my  life  long  until  now  ;  and 
through  the  merits  of  my  dear  Savior,  who  loved  me 
and  gave  Himself  for  me,  I  shall  dwell  in  Thy  house 
for  evermore.  I  trust  I  can  believe  and  say,  "  I  know 
that  my  Redeemer  liveth;  and  though  worms  shall 
destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh  I  shall  see  God." 
"  The  Lamb  that  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall 
lead  me,  and  God  Himself  shall  wipe  all  tears  from 
my  eyes."    Amen.    Come,  Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly. 


188  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 


September  25, 1831. 

I  must  here  record  the  advice  of  mj  dear  infant 
scholars  in  No.  1.  Mr.  Seton  had  prepared  a  lesson 
and  a  welcome-home  to  grandma.  I  was  much  af- 
fected while  they  were  going  through  with  it.  I 
asked  them  if  they  thought  grandma  was  as  happy 
to  see  them  as  they  seemed  to  be  to  see  her.  Many 
voices  answered  in  the  affirmative.  "  Why,  then,  did 
grandma  cry  ?"  One  said,  "  You  cried  for  joy."  I 
told  them  that  people  shed  tears  of  joy,  pleasure, 
and  sorrow ;  that  my  tears  partook  of  all  these.  I 
shed  tears  of  joy  to  see  them,  and  pleasure  in  hear- 
ing them ;  and,  adverting  to  the  commencement  of 
infant  schools,  I  said  that  I  shed  tears  of  sorrow  that 
I  had  not  been  more  thankful  to  God  for  answering 
my  prayers  in  establishing  infant  schools,  and  that  I 
had  done  so  little  to  promote  the  glory  of  that  God 
who  had  done  so  much  for  me.  "What"  (I  asked) 
"should  grandma  do  now?"  "Pray,"  was  the  an- 
swer. "What  should  grandma  pray  for?"  After  a 
pause,  a  boy  answered,  "You  should  pray  to  be  more 
thankful ;"  a  little  girl,  "  Pray  that  you  may  be  more 
holy;"  another,  "That  you  may  be  more  useful." 
Thus  did  the  Lord  tell  me  what  I  should  pray  for  by 
the  mouths  of  these  little  ones,  rescued  from  igno- 
rance and  vice  through  our  instrumentality.  Lord, 
hear  my  prayer  this  night — all  that  I  have  asked  on 
my  knees  and  recorded  in  this  book.  Make  me  more 
tlianhful^  more  lioly^  more  useful.     May  my  little  re- 


MES.  bethune's  writings.  189 

mainder  of  life  be  spent  exclusively  in  Thy  service ; 
and  especially  give  me  to  train  up  a  seed  to  serve 
Thee  when  my  head  shall  be  laid  in  the  dust,  and 
Thy  name,  and  Thine  only,  shall  have  the  praise. 
Amen.  Come,  Lord  Jesus!  come  quickly.  Halle- 
luiah !     Praise  and  bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul ! 

Lines  stiggested  by  looking  at  the  Portrait  of  my  beloved  Husband. 

Sad  was  the  day  -when  from  my  sight 
Passed  that  dear  form,  my  chief  delight, 
And  left  me  here  a  lonely  one, 
No  arm  of  flesh  to  lean  upon. 
As  falls  the  ivy  with  the  oak. 
When  low  'tis  laid  by  woodman's  stroke. 
So  sunk  my  soul,  bereft  of  thine — 
Thy  soul  of  love,  that  twined  with  mine. 
In  vain  I  stretched  from  side  to  side 
To  find  support,  which  none  supplied ; 
For  he  who  dried  the  widow's  tear 
Had  left  his  own  sad  widow  here. 

Oh,  Divie,  I  ne'er  thought  to  see 
The  day  when  thou  wouldst  fly  from  me, 
To  share  in  joys  I  could  not  share. 
And  leave  me  all  those  ills  to  bear ; 
Thou  who  wert  wont  to  dry  my  tears. 
And  on  thy  bosom  hushed  my  fears  ; 
Thy  wife  of  youth,  who  shared  with  thee 
Thy  lot  in  wealth  and  poverty. 
No  grief  hadst  thou  but  it  was  mine ; 
No  joy  had  I  if  'twas  not  thine ; 
Our  path  in  life  was  rich  in  love. 
With  joys  of  earth,  and  from  above. 
We  pledged  our  love  to  Christ  in  youth. 
And,  as  first  sought.  He  proved  in  truth 


190  MRS. 


All  that  He  promised ;  for  secure 
We  found  our  bread — our  water  sure. 
Still,  hand  in  hand,  we  walked  along, 
And  bent  the  knee,  and  raised  the  song 
Of  praise.     Then  joined  each  .Christian  plan 
To  succor  wretched,  fallen  man. 

Six  lovely  babes  to  us  were  given  ; 
Three  passed  before  thee  into  heaven. 
Those  dear  loved  ones  thou  now  hast  join'd  ; 
Three,  with  thy  widow,  left  behind. 
Thy  labors  now  for  us  are  past ; 
Dear  wearied  one,  thou'rt  now  at  rest ; 
And  God  himself  hast  dried  thy  tears, 
And  given  for  time  eternal  years, 
While  still  I  plod  my  lonely  way, 
No  cheering  smile  to  prove  a  ray 
To  guide,  through  this  sad  wilderness, 
Thy  widow  and  thy  fatherless. 


October  16th,  1831. 

The  longer  I  live,  and  the  more  I  read  mj  Bible, 
and  witness  God's  dealings  with  His  people,  the  more 
I  am  convinced  that  the  work  must  begin  with  Him. 
We  never  will  be  made  willing  but  in  a  day  of  His 
power.  We  never  will  repent  until  He  opens  our 
eyes  to  see  whom  we  have  offended.  We  never  will 
hunger  and  thirst  after  righteousness  until,  like  the 
prodigal,  He  brings  us  to  see  our  wretched  situation 
by  nature,  and  makes  the  greatest  dainties  of  this 
world  to  taste  like  husks  and  chaff,  and  prove  as  in- 
sufficient to  nourish.  Yet  He  has  promised  that 
"whosoever  cometh  unto  Him  He  will  in  no  wise 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  191 

But  we  must  come  as  poor,  and  miserable, 
and  blind,  and  naked,  having  nothing,  and  needing 
every  thing ;  smiting  on  our  breasts,  and  saying, 
"God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner;"  feeling  ourselves 
sinners,  we  come  to  claim  a  Savior.  As  freely  offer- 
ed. He  must  be  freely  accepted,  without  money,  and 
without  price.  Nothing  will  suit  our  poverty  but  the 
gold  which  He  counsels  us  to  buy — gold  tried  in  the 
fire ;  nothing  our  nakedness  but  the  white  raiment  of 
His  righteousness.  Nor  can  our  eyes  be  opened  to 
see  our  need  till  He  anoints  them  with  eye-salve,  and 
turns  them  inward  upon  our  wretched  selves. 

Blessed  be  God,  as  many  as  He  loves  He  chastens. 
He  stands  at  the  door  and  knocks ;  if  any  man  hear 
His  voice,  and  open  the  door.  He  will  come  in  to  him, 
and  sup  with  him.  O  my  covenant  God,  the  God  of 
my  fathers,  art  Thou  indeed  the  God  of  their  suc- 
ceeding race?  Dare  I  to  claim  Thee  as  my  God? 
Lord,  I  believe ;  help  my  unbelief. 

These  forty  years  since  I  professed  to  believe  in 
Thee  Thou  hast  sustained  me,  and  been  my  cloud  by 
day  and  pillar  of  fire  by  night.  Through  fire  and 
through  water  Thou  hast  led  me,  with  the  dear  part- 
ner Thou  didst  give  me ;  and  although  Thou  didst 
cause  men  to  ride  over  our  heads,  and  didst  even  give 
us  the  bread  of  afl&iction  and  water  of  affliction,  yet 
Thy  loving  kindness  Thou  didst  never  take  from  us, 
nor  alter  the  word  Thou  hadst  spoken.  And  now 
Thou  hast  brought  him^  and  Thou  wilt  also,  in  Thine 
own  time,  bring  me,  to  a  wealthy  place ;  and  not  only 


192  MKS.  bethune's  wkitings. 

me,  but  all  mj  own  children,  wliose  eyes  Thou  hast 
opened,  and  whose  souls  Thou  hast  washed  in  Thine 
own  blood,  and  made  them  Thy  sons  and  Thy  daugh- 
ters. Oh,  my  God,  my  heart  overflows  with  grati- 
tude to  Thee  for  the  unspeakable  gift  vouchsafed  to 
me  and  mine.  Not  one  left  out ;  all  within  the  ark 
of  safety,  and  in  a  good  measure  walking  in  the  foot- 
steps of  Thy  flock.  Blessed  Shepherd,  still  guard  Thy 
sheep  and  Thy  lambs.  The  sheep  are  gathered,  I 
trust,  and  Thou  hast  now  begun  to  gather  the  lambs. 
0  God,  continue  to  gather  them,  until  not  one  of  my 
descendants,  or  the  descendants  of  my  dear  mother, 
shall  be  without 


September  18,  1833. 
The  ninth  anniversary  of  my  beloved  husband's  re- 
lease from  sin  and  sorrow,  and  the  departure  of  my 
earthly  joys.  I  returned  this  day  week  from  Utica, 
the  anniversary  of  his  return  to  the  city  for  the  last 
time,  ll.th  of  September,  1824.  I  am  not  yet  recov- 
ered from  a  severe  attack  of  bilious  fever ;  my  mind 
much  weakened  as  well  as  my  body.  I  do  not  feel 
able  on  my  knees,  as  on  former  anniversaries,  to  con- 
fess my  numerous  sins  and  shortcomings  during  the 
past  year,  and  enumerate  the  many  mercies  which  the 
Lord  continues  to  grant  me.  I  bless  and  magnify 
His  name  that  this  is  the  first  time  I  have  been  pre- 
vented by  sickness  from  performing  this  duty.  I 
have  been  reading  the  record  of  former  years,  and 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  193 

praying  over  prayers  already  recorded,  and  altering, 
as  I  prayed,  to  suit  the  present  time,  and  my  cry  is, 
"Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul?  and  why  art 
thou  disquieted  within  me  ?  Hope  thou  in  God,  for 
I  shall  yet  praise  Him  for  the  help  of  His  counte- 
nance." Blessed  be  God  for  these  precious  words. 
"  I  shall  yet  praise  Him."  Never  before  have  I  been 
so  much  inclined  to  look  on  the  dark  side.  I  have, 
for  several  years  at  least,  felt  my  heart  overflow  with 
thankfulness  for  my  remaining  mercies ;  that  the  pil- 
lar and  the  cloud  have  been  my  guide  by  day  and 
by  night,  while  going  up  through  the  wilderness,  and 
that,  when  the  arm  of  flesh  was  removed,  the  Lord 
Himself  supported  me.  I  have  often  been  like  to 
fall,  but  I  have  never  been  utterly  cast  down.  And 
from  spending  the  hours  of  this  day,  the  18th  of  Sep- 
tember, in  retirement,  with  my  Maker,  who  conde- 
scends to  be  my  Husband,  I  have  felt  greater  desire 
to  run  the  way  of  His  commandments  while  He 
granted  strength  according  to  my  need,  and  grace  ac- 
cording to  my  day.  0  that  I  may  be  soon  enabled  to 
say  and  experience  "God  is  my  refuge  and  strength, 
a  very  present  help  in  trouble  ;  therefore  will  /  not 
fear,  though  the  earth  be  removed,  and  though  the 
mountains  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the  sea.  The 
Lord  of  Hosts  is  with  me ;  the  God  of  Jacob  is  my 
refuge.     Selah." 

0  Lord,  Thou  knowest,  though  I  can  not  enumerate 
them,  all  my  sins  and  shortcomings  during  the  past 
year,  and  also  those  of  my  dear  children.     0,  for  the 

T 


194  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

sake  of  the  Lamb  that  was  slain,  who  Himself  bare 
our  iniquities,  do  Thou  pardon  them,  and  with  His 
blood  blot  them  from  Thy  book.  Bring  to  my  mind, 
and  pardon  my  ingratitude  for  the  numerous  mercies 
Thou  still  continuest  to  me.  And  0  continue  Thy 
favor,  freely  offered  to  all  who  believe  Thy  precious 
promises.  Lord, I  believe;  help  my  unbelief.  Look 
in  mercy  on  all  the  families  of  Thine  Handmaid,  and 
suit  Thy  mercy  to  their  need.  Each  has  her  trials. 
O  give  grace,  and  all  will  be  well.  Look  on  Thy 
servant,  the  only  son  of  Thy  widowed  handmaid, 
now  walking  in  darkness,  and  seeing  no  light  as  to 
the  path  of  duty ;  enable  him  to  trust  in  the  Lord, 
and  stay  humbly  upon  his  God.  Make  Thy  blessed 
Word  to  him,  as  it  has  been  thousands  of  times  to  me, 
and  those  now  with  Thee,  who  made  him  the  subject 
of  their  prayers,  "a  lamp  to  his  feet,  and  a  light  to  his 
path."  May  he  meet  with  me  at  a  throne  of  grace 
at  9  A.M.  Do  Thou  indite  our  petitions.  Incline 
Thine  ear  to  hear,  and  answer  our  prayers.  Blessed 
Master,  Thou  didst  give  me  a  text  while  sitting  in  my 
son's  church  the  Sabbath  before  I  left.  Thine  own 
blessed  mouth  spoke  these  words,  Matthew,  xviii.,  19  : 
"  If  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth  as  touching  any 
thing  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for  them  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven."  O  Lord,  may  Thy  serv- 
ant and  Thine  handmaid  agree  on  earth  to  ask  of  Thee 
grace  to  enable  them  to  "  lay  aside  every  weight,  and 
the  sin  which  most  easily  besets  them,  and  to  run 
with  patience  the  race  set  before  them,  looking  unto 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  195 

Jesus,  the  Author  and  Finisher  of  our  faith,  who,  for 
the  joy  that  was  set  before  Him,  endured  the  cross, 
despising  the  shame,  and  is  set  down  at  the  right 
hand  of  God."  I  commit  myself,  and  my  beloved 
children,  and  those  connected  with  them,  to  Thy  care, 
and  make  a  fresh  dedication  of  myself,  my  time,  my 
talents,  my  substance. 

"I  praise  Thee  for  all  that  is  past, 

And  trust  Thee  for  all  that's  to  come." 

If  Thou  seest  fit  to  grant  health  and  time,  may  they 
be  used  in  honoring  and  serving  Thee.  If  Thou 
deny  me  these  blessings,  may  I  be  enabled  to  suffer 
Thy  will  without  murmuring.  If  called  to  pass  over 
Jordan  before  another  anniversary,  may  Thy  rod  and 
Thy  staff  support  me,  and  may  I  fear  no  evil,  and 
finally  dwell  with  Thee,  and  those  gone  before,  in 
Thy  house  for  evermore.     Amen. 


Sabbath,  April  13,  183-4.  Communion  Sabbath. 
For  the  first  time  in  nine  months  I  have  been  priv- 
ileged to  commemorate  the  dying  love  of  my  Savior. 
Oh,  what  has  passed  over  my  widowed  heart  since 
July  21,  1833.  Sickness,  severe  sickness  of  body, 
and  consequent  debility  of  both  body  and  mind,  and 
little  sympathy  from  friends.  Perhaps,  owing  to  my 
being  so  actively  engaged  in  public  duties,  I  have 
had  little  time  to  cultivate  friendship  with  even  pious 
people ;  and  perhaps  they  have,  in  their  times  of  sick- 
ness and  trial,  been  wounded  by  my  neglect.     We 


196  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

are  poor,  imperfect  creatures.  If  God  were  to  deal 
with  us  as  we  deal  with  one  another,  what  would  be- 
come of  us  ?  Still  I  feel  lonely^  but  only  for  the  want 
of  Christian  communion.  As  I  sat  in  my  pew,  I 
missed  the  dear  faces  who  formerly  united  with  me 
in  the  precious  ordinances ;  not  even  my  Jessy  pres- 
ent, confined  at  home  by  her  own  and  daughter's 
sickness.  The  Lord,  however,  did  not  fail  to  send 
me  a  comforting  word  from  the  chapter  read,  John, 
XX.,  15,  16,  and  17,  especially  the  16th  verse,  where 
our  blessed  Lord  said  to  the  woman,  '■^  Mary  !  She 
turned  herself  and  said,  Eabboni !  Master."  Oh,  how 
these  words  thrilled  through  my  heart.  Mary  was 
alone.  She  had  no  relatives  to  unite  with  her  in 
seeking  her  Master,  whom  she  had  seen  expire  on 
the  cross.  He  who  had  so  often  cheered  her,  saying, 
"Daughter,  be  of  good  cheer,  thy  sins  are  forgiven 
thee,"  was  no  more.  All  that  remained,  as  she 
thought,  was  to  take  care  of  the  body  of  her  departed 
Lord.  Her  weeping  eyes  could  not  recognize  Him ; 
but  when  the  well-known  voice  sounded  in  her  ear, 
how  sweet  was  the  recognition.  No  doubt  she  pros- 
trated herself  before  Him,  and  would  have  kissed 
those  precious  feet  she  had  formerly  washed  with  her 
tears  and  wiped  with  the  hairs  of  her  head.  When 
Mr.  M'Cartee  read  the  verse,  and  paused  on  the  word 
Mary^  it  went  to  my  heart,  and  I  could  not  help  claim- 
ing my  Savior  as  much  as  if  he  at  that  moment  said 
Joanna!  and  in  the  sweet  confidence  of  faith  my 
heart  responded  "Kabboni,  Master!"     And   during 


197 

all  the  subsequent  exercises  a  feeling  of  nearness  to 
Him  took  the  place  of  regret  for  absent  friends. 
Lord,  continue  to  look  on  me  as  Thou  didst  on  Mary, 
and  every  trial  will  be  light.  I  bless  Thee  that 
through  all  my  trials  and  difficulties  I  have  never 
been  left  to  give  up  my  confidence,  however  cold  and 
listless  I  may  have  been ;  however  discouraged  at  the 
difficulties  I  have  had  to  encounter,  both  public  and 
private,  a  feeling  that  my  Kedeemer  cared  for  me, 
and  that  the  Lord  Himself  upheld  me  with  His  arm, 
has  sustained  me.  But,  O  Lord,  I  am  tired  of  sin- 
ning. I  am  tired  of  myself,  and  sometimes  feel  that 
my  journey  will  soon  be  done.  It  can  not  be  long 
now ;  but,  long  or  short,  may  my  murmurings  be 
henceforth  hushed,  and  may  I  no  longer  look  for 
any  thing  whatever  from  the  creature. 

If  I  regard  sin  in  my  heart.  Thou  wilt  not  hear  my 
prayer — and  no  doubt  I  sin  when  my  feelings  are 
wounded  by  the  neglect  of  friends — neither  wilt  Thou 
answer  if  I  make  idols  of  Thy  gifts. 

"  Sooner  or  late  the  heart  must  bleed 
That  idols  entertain." 

0,  thenceforth  may  I  live  entirely  to  Thee.  Wheth- 
er I  eat  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  I  do,  I  would  do  all 
to  Thy  glory.  To  Thee  only  would  I  look  for  sym- 
pathy in  all  my  sorrows,  knowing  that  I  have  "  an 
High-Priest  that  can  be  touched  with  a  feeling  of 
my  infirmities."  To  Thee  henceforth  may  I  look  for 
wisdom  to  direct  me  in  all  my  duties.  Make  all  my 
duties  plain  before  me,  and  be,  as  Thou  hast  been  in 


198 

all  the  days  of  my  widowhood,  my  pillar  of  cloud  by 
day  and  my  pillar  of  fire  by  night.  Help  me,  O 
Lord,  to  pray  and  believe,  and  confidently  expect 
that  Thou  wilt  be  with  me  through  the  last  conflict. 
O,  as  Thy  presence  was  with  those  dear  loved  ones 
I  now. mourn,  so  may  it  be  with  me.  Let  no  gloomy 
doubts  arise ;  and  may  it  be,  I  would  ask,  as  easy  a 
dismission ;  but  this  with  submission.  Only  support 
me  by  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff;  place  underneath  me 
the  everlasting  arms,  and  be  Thou  Thyself,  O  eternal 
God,  my  refuge,  and  then  all  will  be  well.  Take 
Thou  the  place,  in  that  hour,  of  lover  and  friend — 
my  beloved  mother  and  beloved  husband,  to  whom  I 
had  the  privilege  of  ministering.  "My  dear  Divie 
must  close  my  eyes,"  said  my  dear  mother;  "Joanna 
will  not  be  able."  "Dear  Joanna,  do  not  leave  me, 
but  comfort  me  with  sweet  words,"  said  my  depart- 
ing bosom  companion.  "Poor  Joanna  is  now  left 
alone."  That  sweet  sound  no  more  greets  my  ear — 
not  one  to  say  it.  0  then,  my  Savior,  do  Thou  call 
me  by  name.  One  of  my  name  ministered  to  Thee  on 
earth,  with  three  Marys.  And  O,  my  covenant  God, 
permit  me  again  to  plead  Thy  precious  promise,  Isa., 
lix.,  21.  Only  fulfill  that  precious  one  to  my  seed 
and  the  seed  of  my  mother,  and  I  leave  all  other  mer- 
cies to  be  given  or  withheld.  Be  with  all  my  chil- 
dren and  children's  children  through  all  the  chang- 
ing scenes  of  time,  and  may  we  rejoice  at  last,  no 
wanderer  lost,  a  family  in  heaven.  Amen.  Come, 
Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly. 


199 


September  18,  1835. 

This  is  the  eleventh  anniversary  of  mj  husband's 
death.  Eleven  years  of  happiness  unmingled  to  him, 
and  of  regret  for  the  loss  of  the  best  of  husbands  to 
me.  I  renew  the  dedication  made  eleven  years  ago, 
to  my  God,  of  time,  talents,  and  substance — all  already 
His  own — but  I  feel  thankful  that  He  enables  me  to 
offer  willingly  back  to  Him,  that  He  may  show  me 
how  to  use  all  in  the  best  possible  manner  to  promote 
His  glory,  and  do  good  to  others,  especially  in  train- 
ing up  a  seed  to  serve  Him  when  I  shall  have  ceased 
from  my  labors. 

And  now,  O  my  covenant  God,  in  view  of  all  these 
mercies,  I  come  still  as  a  beggar  before  Thee,  and 
leave  the  following  petitions  on  the  table  of  Thy  cov- 
enant : 

1.  I  pray  that  my  heart  may  be  kept  humble  in  this 
time  of  prosperity ;  that,  with  renewed  health  and  in- 
creased means.  Thou  wouldst  give  increased  desire  to 
use  all  for  Thy  glory.  That  I  may  still  continue  fru- 
gal in  supplying  my  own  and  family's  temporal  wants, 
and  be  liberal  in  advancing  the  kingdom  of  God  in 
this  world,  and  in  feeding  His  poor.  That  I  may 
love  the  Lord  my  God  with  all  my  heart,  with  all  my 
soul,  with  all  my  mind,  and  with  all  my  might,  and 
my  neighbor  as  mj^self  O  give  counsel  how  to  use 
Thy  gifts  so  as  not  to  abuse  them. 

2.  I  pray  that  the  Lord  would  renew  his  work,  es- 
pecially in  my  own  heart,  and  the  hearts  of  my  pro- 


200 

fessing  children ;  that  He  will  not  permit  us  to  rest 
satisfied  in  our  present  attainments ;  that  He  would 
convince  all  of  us  of  the  necessity  of  growing  in 
grace,  and  the  knowledge  of  God  our  Savior;  that 
our  conversation  may  be  without  covetousness,  and 
always  becoming  those  who  profess  not  to  be  their 
own,  but  bought  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ, 
and  bound  to  glorify  Him  in  all  our  ways. 

8.  I  pray  that  all  the  families  of  Thy  servant  and 
handmaid  may  acknowledge  Thee  as  the  God  of  their 
mercies ;  that  the  heads  of  them  may  be  like  Abra- 
ham, and  command  their,  children  and  households 
after  them,  and  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord,  to  do  just- 
ice and  judgment,  that  the  Lord  may  bring  upon  us 
all  the  blessings  promised  to  the  faithful.  That  the 
parents,  both  fathers  and  mothers,  may  be  faithful  in 
training  up  their  children  in  the  nurture  and  admoni- 
tion of  the  Lord ;  that  they,  in  obedience  to  Thy  com- 
mand, may  teach  them  diligently  all  Thy  command- 
ments and  Thy  statutes  while  they  sit  in  the  house, 
and  when  they  walk  by  the  way,  when  they  lie  down 
and  when  they  rise  up,  and  may  enforce  their  instruc- 
tion by  a  godly  example,  never  doing  that  which 
may  lead  their  children  into  carelessness  and  error. 

4.  I  pray  that  Thou  wouldst  fulfill  Thy  gracious 
promise  in  Isaiah,  xliv.,  3 :  "  I  will  pour  water  upon 
him  that  is  thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the  dry  ground ; 
I  will  pour  my  Spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my  blessing 
upon  thine  offspring.  And  they  shall  spring  up  as 
among  the  grass,  and  as  willows  by  the  water-courses. 


201 

One  shall  say,  I  am  the  Lord's ;  and  another  shall 
call  himself  by  the  name  of  Jacob ;  and  another  shall 
subscribe  with  his  hand  unto  the  Lord,  and  surname 
himself  by  the  God  of  Israel."  Gracious  God,  fulfill 
these  promises  to  my  seed  and  seed's  seed.  I  pray 
that  Thou  wilt  pour  out  a  spirit  of  prayer  and  sup- 
plication upon  all  of  us;  that  Thou  wouldst  call 
every  one  of  the  children  of  Thy  servants  in  early 
youth,  as  Thou  didst  themselves.  Hedge  them  into 
the  right  way,  and  preserve  them  from  the  tempta- 
tions to  which  they  may  be  exposed ;  especially  bless 
me,  0  Lord,  in  giving  them  religious  instruction  on 

Sabbath.     Bless  me  to ;  may  she  soon  evince  a 

desire  to  be  like  Mary,  and  choose  the  better  part 
which  shall  never  be  taken  away. 

5.  I  pray  for  my  dear  and  only  son,  that  the  af- 
flictions with  which  Thou  still  continuest  to  visit 
him  may  be  sanctified  to  him  and  to  his  partner; 
that  Thy  hand  may  be  removed,  if  consistent  with 
Thy  will,  and  she  restored  to  a  measure  of  health, 
that  she  may  be  a  help,  and  not  a  hinderance  to  Thy 
servant.  I  pray  that  he  may  continue  a  faithful 
pastor,  and  prove  all  that  his  dear  father  prayed  he 
might  be,  and  all  Thou  wouldst  have  him  to  be. 

6.  I  pray  for  my  little  household :  that  Thou 
wouldst  bless  Mrs.  Wood ;  may  she  experience  Thy 
love  shed  abroad  in  her  heart ;  may  she  be  a  Chris- 
tian in  word  and  deed.  And  O,  I  pray  for  the  poor 
Hindoo.  Lord,  have  mercy  on  this  poor  infatuated 
creature.     What  shall  I  do  for  him?     He  will  not 

12 


202  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

mind  what  I  say.  Thou  alone  canst  reach  his  heart. 
O,  then,  pluck  him  as  a  brand  from  the  burning ; 
take  the  prey  from  the  strong;  and  may  we  yet  re- 
joice over  him  as  one  that  was  lost  and  is  found,  as 
one  that  was  dead  and  is  now  alive.  Lord,  quicken 
this  dead  soul,  and  restore  joy  to  Thy  mourners. 

7.  I  pray  that  Thou  wouldst  plead  the  cause  of  the 
orphan.  Lord,  give  us  the  victory  in  the  threatened 
suit.  Whoever  he  be,  may  he  be  led  to  withdraw  it, 
and  leave  us  in  quiet  possession  of  the  property  which 
Thy  deceased  servant  bequeathed  to  them,  and  grant 
us  wisdom  to  conduct  us  through  every  duty.  May 
faithful  and  skillful  workmen  undertake  our  building, 
and  may  the  necessary  funds  be  furnished  to  com- 
plete it.  Spare  all  our  useful  superintendents,  teach- 
ers, nurses,  and  matrons  to  us.  Bless  the  instruction 
given  the  children.  May  they  all  grow  up  useful 
citizens,  and  be  made  partakers  of  Thy  grace,  and  all 
our  Board,  and  the  children  whom  Thou  hast  given 
us,  meet  at  last  in  heaven. 

8.  I  pray  that,  shouldst  Thou  spare  me  through 
another  year,  I  may  be  more  faithful  to  my  vows 
than  I  ever  yet  have  been  ;  that  I  may  do  more  good 
than  I  have  ever  done ;  that  I  may  be  more  useful 
than  I  ever  have  been  to  the  souls  and  bodies  of  my 
children,  my  neighbors,  and  all  with  whom  I  may 
have  intercourse ;  that  our  Infant  School  No.  1  may 
be  an  eminent  means  of  training  up  a  seed  to  serve 
Thee,  and  that  our  example  may  be  followed  by  oth- 
ers, and  all  the  children  of  this  city  brought  under  re- 


MRS.  bethune's  writings-.  203 

ligious  instruction ;  that  our  teachers  may  be  taught 
of  Thee,  and  that  we  may  have  the  means  of  paying 
them  enough  to  support  them. 

9.  I  pray  for  Thy  blessing  on  all  the  efforts  now 
making  by  Thy  servants  in  advancing  the  kingdom  of 
our  dear  Kedeemer — Bible,  Missionary,  Tract,  Beth- 
el, Education  Society ;  for  the  poor  slaves,  that  the 
oppressed  may  go  free ;  and  that  Thou  wouldst  bless 
the  Colonization  Society  as  a  means  of  restoring  the 
poor  Africans  to  their  own  land,  and  evangelizing 
Ethiopia. 

10.  Bless  all  in  whom  I  am  interested;  all  who 
have  been  kind  to  me,  and  forgive  those  who  have 
been  unkind  to  me.  Bless  all  my  friends  in  England, 
Scotland,  and  America.  Have  mercy  on  a  world  ly- 
ing in  wickedness,  and  hasten  the  time  when  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall  cover  the  earth  as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea ;  and  the  glory  of  all  will  be  as- 
cribed to  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.     Amen. 

And  now,  O  my  God,  I  enter  upon  the  twelfth 
year  of  my  widowhood.  O  may  Thy  blessing  rest 
upon  me  throughout  the  year,  or  that  part  of  it  Thou 
shalt  continue  me  on  earth.  Hear  and  answer  all 
the  prayers  offered  and  tabled  before  Thee  this  day. 
Bless  the  exercises  in  which  I  have  been  engaged. 
Let  Thy  presence  be  with  me  when  I  leave  my  room, 
and  go  again  to  fulfill  the  duties  incumbent  upon  me. 
And  while  I  remember  my  dear  departed  companion, 
and  regret  his  loss,  may  I  be  stimulated  to  follow  his 
example  and  that  of  my  dear  mother,  and  finally  be 


204 

carried  through  my  last  trying  hour,  and  come  off 
more  than  conqueror  through  Him  that  loved  us  and 
gave  Himself  for  us.     Halleluiah !  praise  ye  the  Lord. 


Sabbath,  January  24,  1839. 

Often  did  my  dear  mother  say  that  persons  ar- 
rived at  the  age  of  sixty  and  over  could  not  take  care 
of  themselves.  I  thank  God  I  had  the  privilege  of 
taking  care  of  her ;  that  she  had  no  family  cares,  and 
departed  in  the  midst  of  her  children  and  children's 
children,  her  dear  Divie,  according  to  her  desire  and 
wish,  closing  her  eyes.  Just  as  the  spirit  was  pass- 
ing away,  a  flash  of  lightning  passed  through  the 
room,  and  a  distant  roll  of  thunder.  Mrs.  Lindsay 
was  near  her  head,  and  said,  "  The  Lord's  voice,  call- 
ing home  His  own."  Oh,  it  was  a  lovely  death !  How 
I  longed,  when  contemplating  her  peaceful  clay,  to 
lay  me  down  and  pass  through  the  same  peaceful 
death ;  but  there  was  more  work  for  me  to  do.  Her 
last  admonition  was,  "Joanna,  you  and  I  have  had 
much  to  do  in  charitable  societies,  and  we  have  both 
experienced  how  little  good  can  be  effected  with  old 
objects ;  and  as  you  can  not  engage  in  all  institutions, 
I  would  wish  you  to  give  yourself  cheerfully  to  the 
young."  I  devoted  myself  to  the  work,  kneeling  by 
her  coffin.  The  Lord  accepted  the  dedication,  and  I 
had  the  privilege,  shortly  after,  to  establish  the  first 
Sunday-school  Union  in  America,  the  first  Sunday- 
school  Depository,  and  to  be,  I  hope,  usefully  engaged 


205 

in  Sabbath-schools  for  fourteen  years  after  her  de- 
cease. Ten  years  after  her  departure,  the  Lord  took 
from  me  the  desire  of  my  eyes  with  a  stroke ;  sever- 
ed the  strongest  tie,  and  left  me  a  desolate  widow. 
Often,  often  she  said,  "  I  hope  I  may  not  live  to  see  any 
of  my  children  a  widow."  She  was  spared  that  trial, 
and  from  shedding  bitter,  bitter  tears  over  her  dear 
Divie,  who  was  a  faithful  son  to  her,  and  whom  she 
apparently  loved  with  as  much  affection  as  if  she  had 
travailed  in  birth  for  him.  My  daughters  had  mar- 
ried and  gone,  but  while  my  beloved  husband  re- 
mained I  was  happy.  Happy  I  oh,  never  was  happi- 
ness greater  than  when  the  Lord  answered  our  pray- 
ers in  the  salvation  of  our  only  son.  It  was  more 
happiness  than  falls  to  the  lot  of  mortals,  and  it  was 
short-lived.  There  was  even  then  a  worm  at  the 
root  of  my  gourd,  which  I  perceived,  not.  The  dear 
head  was  to  be  taken  away,  his  work  finished.  Oh, 
then  again  I  longed  to  accompany  him.  How  could 
I  stay  behind,  the  last  and  the  least  of  the  happy 
trio?  But  no,  he  said, ''  Oh  no,  my  dear,  your  work 
is  not  done  yet ;  the  Lord  has  more  for  you  to  do." 
Alas !  I  thought  I  would  never  work  more.  Oh  how 
hard  it  was  to  be  willing  to  live,  and  through  what 
fiery  trials  I  passed  after  the  dearest,  the  best  of  hus- 
bands was  laid  in  the  grave ! 

I  have  repeatedly  devoted  myself,  soul,  body,  and 
estate,  to  my  God,  desiring  all  to  be  used  for  His  glo- 
ry ;  and  now  I  am  peculiarly  called  to  trust  in  Him 
as  my  Husband,  that  He  will  show  me  a  reason  for 


206  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

my  present  trial.  All  is  at  present  dark  before  me ; 
but  what  He  does  now,  and  I  know  not  the  reason 
of,  I  have  His  promise  I  shall  know  hereafter. 


Sabbath,  June  12,  1836. 

"  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul ;  and  all  that  is  within 
me,  bless  and  magnify  His  holy  name.  Bless  the 
Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  His  benefits ; 
who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities;  who  healeth  all 
thy  diseases;  who  redeemeth  thy  life  from  destruc- 
tion; who  crowneth  thee  with  loving-kindness  and 
tender  mercies ;  who  satisfieth  thy  mouth  with  good 
things,  so  that  thy  youth  is  renewed  like  the  eagle's." 
— Psalm  ciii.,  1-5.  "Well  may  I  make  this  my  prayer 
this  day,  considering  all  the  goodness  which  God  has 
vouchsafed  to  me,  and  the  works  he  honors  His  un- 
worthy handmaid  to  take  part  in.  I  have  experi- 
enced both  joy  and  sorrow  since  my  last  record  in 
this  book.  I  have  parted  with  a  dear  Christian  friend, 
Miss  Hannah  Murray,  who  has  entered  her  rest,  in 
her  60th  year.  Of  her  it  may  truly  be  said,  "  Blessed 
are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord ;  yea,  saith  the  Spir- 
it, they  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their  works  do  fol- 
low them."  She  was  a  cheerful,  active  Christian, 
amid  great  bodily  weakness.  She  was  Treasurer  to 
the  Infant  School  Society  from  its  commencement  to 
the  close  of  this  year  and  her  life.  I  visited  her  two 
da3^s  previous  to  her  decease.  She  was  very  weak, 
but  evidently  knew  me.     She  said,  "  Stand  by  you — > 


207 

Jesus — "  I  often  called  her  ^^  mij  stand-hyJ^  Her 
work  was  clone,  and  well  done.  O  that  I  may  also 
finish  my  work,  so  that  it  may  bring  at  last  upon  me 
the  plaudit  which,  no  doubt,  will  be  given  to  dear 
Hannah  Murray,  "  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  serv- 
ant, enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord." 

Genesis,  xxviii.,  20-22. 

* '  O  God  of  Bethel !  by  whose  hand 
Thy  people  still  are  fed ; 
Who  through  this  weary  pilgrimage 
Hast  all  our  fathers  led ; 

"  Our  vows,  our  prayers,  we  now  present, 
Before  Thy  throne  of  grace  ; 
God  of  our  fathers,  be  the  God 
Of  their  succeeding  race. 

"Through  each  perplexing  scene  of  life 
Our  wand'ring  footsteps  guide ; 
Give  us  each  day  our  daily  bread, 
And  raiment  fit  provide. 

* '  O  spread  Thy  covering  wings  around 
Till  all  our  wand'rings  cease, 
And  at  our  Father's  loved  abode 
Our  soul's  arrive  in  peace. 

"Such  blessings  from  Thy  gracious  hand 
Our  humble  prayers  implore, 
And  Thou  shalt  be  our  chosen  God, 
And  portion  evermore." 

The  above  my  dear  husband,  my  dear  mother,  and 
the  worthy  Dr.  Morison,  now  a  glorified  trio,  I  united 
with  in  singing  the  evening  previous  to  Morison's 
sailing  for  China.  This  hymn  we  also  sung  at  Ding- 
wall, at  parting  with  my  dear  mother  and  sisters-in- 


208 

law,  in  the  year  1801.  Only  two  of  the  latter  com- 
pany remain  on  earth,  Miss  Bethune  and  myself,  and 
only  one  (the  writer)  is  left  of  the  former.  Oh !  of 
how  many  companies  who  joined  in  praises  and  pray- 
ers am  I  the  only  one  left !  Well,  my  time  will  come. 
I  too  shall  share  their  joys  "when  grace  has  well  re- 
fined my  heart." 

'^  "Cheered  by  this  hope,  with  patient  mind, 
I'll  wait  Heaven's  high  decree ; 
Till  the  appointed  period  come 

When  death  shall  set  me  free."     Amen. 

The  last  verses  my  beloved  husband  wrote : 

<' What  joy  that  promised  grace  imparts — 
I'll  write  my  laws  within  their  hearts ; 
Engrave  them,  Lord,  most  deeply  there, 
And  answer  agonizing  prayer. 

*'I  loathe  my  heart  in  native  guile, 
Would  cherish  that  would  make  me  vile ; 
Each  sinful  motion,  Lord,  remove, 
And  mould — O  mould  me  to  Thy  love. 

^ '  I  never  can  enjoy  sweet  peace 
Till  inward  disobedience  cease ; 
Till,  every  sinful  idol  slain, 
Grace  holds  her  sole  triumphant  reign. 

*'  Oh  how  I  long  to  feel  the  shower, 
Sweet  signal  of  Thy  Spirit's  power ; 
With  what  delight  my  soul  would  taste 
Thy  precious  Word's  perpetual  feast. 

*'My  heart  is  panting  with  desire 
For  heavenly,  holy,  kindling  fire ; 
With  warm  repentance'  smiling  pow'r, 
While  I  myself  for  sin  abhor. 


209 


"Low  in  the  dust,  abased  in  shame, 
Without  a  single  lawful  claim, 
I  mourn  my  guilt,  yet  loudly  plead, 
Because  Thy  thoughts  my  thoughts  exceed. 

"  Now  be  Thy  hour  of  mercy.  Lord ; 
My  hope  rests  wholly  in  Thy  Word. 
Thy  Word  of  promise  swelling  high, 
[Unfinished.] 


Sabbath,  September  22,  1839. 

This  day  I  have  returned  to  my  own  little  sanctu- 
ary, and  again  heard  a  most  faithM  discourse  from 
my  young  pastor,  Mr.  Mines,  from  the  third  verse  of 
the  second  chapter  of  Hebrews.  Unexpectedly  he 
gave  notice  "  that  a  benevolent  individual  of  the  con- 
gregation proposed  taking  an  infant  class  on  the  Sab- 
bath, at  her  own  house,  of  children  between  three  and 
seven  or  eight."  Thus  I  am  committed,  and  I  cheer- 
fully enter  on  the  work,  trusting  that  He  who  in- 
spired the  wish  may  strengthen  me,  and  give  grace 
to  fulfill  my  duty  in  it.  O  Thou  Lamb  of  God,  who 
takest  away  the  sins  of  the  world,  look  upon  the 
lambs  who  shall  assemble  under  the  roof  of  Thine 
aged  handmaid  to  receive  instruction  on  Thy  holy 
day.  Open  the  eyes  of  their  understanding  to  the 
Scriptures  they  will  be  taught,  and  fulfill  Thy  gra- 
cious promise  by  them,  that  "  out  of  the  mouths  of 
babes  and  sucklings  Thou  wilt  perfect  praise."  O 
permit  me  to  labor  for  Thee  as  long  as  Thou  con- 
tinuest  me  on  earth.     May  my  last  days  be  my  best 


210  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

days,  mj  most  useful  days ;  and  let  me  live  and  die 
for  the  cause  of  that  blessed  Master  whose  goodness 
and  mercy  have  followed  me  all  my  life,  and  who  has 
promised  that  I  shall  dwell  in  his  house  forever.  My 
prayer  is  before  Thee,  O  my  God ;  hear  Thou  it,  and 
answer  it  for  the  Kedeemer's  sake.     Amen. 


Sabbath,  September  29,  1839. 

This  day  I  was  privileged  to  begin  my  infant  Sab- 
bath class.  I  had  only  three  children — Alexander 
Hasted,  Julia  Dales  Mines,  and  John  Flavel  Mines, 
the  children  of  my  pastor.  O  Lord,  bless  the  little 
instruction  given ;  lay  richly  to  my  hand  what  I  shall 
teach  these  lambs ;  and  may  they,  if  spared  to  maturi- 
ty, teach  others,  when  the  head  of  Thy  handmaid  is 
laid  in  the  dust.  Give  me  bodily  strength  to  con- 
tinue the  work,  if  it  be  Thy  holy  will ;  and  let  me  die 
in  the  harness,  and  the  praise  shall  be  Thine.    Amen. 


Thursday,  November  29,  1839 — Thanksgiving  Day. 

This  day  I  have  cause  of  mourning  as  well  as  re- 
joicing. On  the  one  hand,  God  has  permitted  me  to 
see  the  completion  of  the  Orphan  Asylum,  and  to  see 
the  chapel  opened  for  religious  worship  on  Tues- 
day, the  19th  instant.  Kev.  Mr.  Eichmond  read  the 
Episcopal  morning  service.  My  son  preached  from 
1  Samuel,  ii.,  19 ;  a  hymn  of  his  composing  was 
sung.    Eev.  Mr.  Yan  Aken,  of  Bloomingdale  Church, 


MKS.  bethune's  writings.  211 

made  tlie  long  prayer,  and  the  Eev.  Dr.  Bangs,  of  the 
Methodist,  pronounced  the  benediction.  All  went 
off  well.  A  very  respectable  audience  attended,  and 
the  chapel  was  more  than  full.  All  the  children — up- 
ward of  one  hundred  and  seventy — attended,  from  the 
infant  in  arms ;  not  one  sick  in  the  house.  Many  con- 
gratulated me,  and  asked  me  if  I  was  not  very  happy. 
My  answer  to  all  was,  ''Yes,  brimful  of  happiness." 
Oh  who  am  I,  and  what  is  all  my  father's  house,  that 
the  Lord  should  honor  me  as  he  has  done?  Not  one 
good  thing  that  I  desired  for  this  favorite  institution 
has  He  denied  me.  For  a  small  moment  He  hid,  as 
it  were.  His  face ;  but  He  has  graciously  removed  the 
cloud,  and  it  is  a  time  of  great  prosperity  with  us. 
But  oh  how  different  are  my  feelings  this  day  from 
that  day  when  I  said  I  was  brimful  of  happiness; 
now  I  am  brimful  of  sorrow.  The  very  best  friend 
I  had,  except  my  own  family,  now  lies  a  corpse.  I 
went  through  so  much  fatigue  arranging  for  the  open- 
ing of  the  chapel,  and  some  other  society  business, 
that  I  was  completely  exhausted  in  body  and  mind. 
My  dear  friend,  Mr.  Ward,  has  for  some  time  been 
failing  in  health,  and  I  promised  myself  much  pleas- 
ure in  spending  a  good  deal  of  time  with  him  this 
winter,  but  on  Monday  I  received  a  note  from  Mrs. 
Francis  saying  that  he  was  dangerously  ill,  and  yes- 
terday, at  half  past  11  o'clock,  his  happy  spirit  wing- 
ed its  way  to  the  mansions  prepared  for  him  by  his 
beloved  Master,  whom  he  so  faithfully  served  during 
the  last  nine  or  ten  years.     The  Lord  Jesus,  when 


212  MKS.  bethune's  writings. 

He  shall  sit  on  the  throne  of  His  judgment,  will  hail 
him  as  a  faithful  servant,  saying,  "  I  was  an  hungered, 
and  ye  gave  me  meat ;  I  was  naked,  and  ye  clothed 
me ;  sick  and  in  prison,  and  ye  visited  me."  For  all 
this,  and  more,  he  did.  I  was  the  first  person  he 
opened  his  mind  to  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  he 
has  ever  been  ready  to  comfort  me  in  all  my  trials, 
and  to  assist  me  in  pecuniary  affairs.  He  was,  indeed, 
always  a  friend  in  need ;  never  once  refused  to  give 
me  for  my  societies  Or  objects  of  charity. 

The  day  before  he  departed  I  spoke  to  him.  He 
roused  from  slumber,  and,  smiling  most  benignly 
upon  me,  said,  "Dear  Aunt  Bethune,  I  wanted  to  see 
you,  to  tell  you  I  am  perfectly  happy."  I  kissed  his 
forehead,  and  was  about  to  withdraw,  when  he  drew 
me  again  to  him,  and  repeated,  "  I  am  perfectly  hap- 
py." I  bless  the  Lord  for  this  favor.  He  spoke  very 
little  to  any  one  else,  except  Dr.  Cutler,  his  brother- 
in-law. 

And  now,  O  Lord,  what  shall  I  say  ?  Dare  I  mur- 
mur that  Thou  hast  taken  away  my  very  best  friend, 
and  made  me  to  feel  indeed  alone  ?  Oh,  art  Thou  not 
weaning  me  from  earth,  and  preparing  me  for  an  in- 
heritance above?  Again  "breaking  my  streams  of 
worldly  joy,  that  I  may  seek  my  all  in  Thee?"  I 
trust  Thou  only  takest  "the  dying  lamp  away,  to 
bless  me  with  Thine  own  unclouded  day."  O  may 
this  affliction  be  sanctified  to  me,  so  as  to  revive  my 
languishing  graces,  quicken  me  to  greater  diligence 
to  make  my  calling  and  election  sure.     O  may  I  sit 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  213 

loose  to  the  world,  and  long  for  the  joys  of  heaven. 
And,  O  my  God,  look  on  the  bereaved  family  of  Thy 
servant,  and  efiect  by  his  death  what  he  was  not  per- 
mitted to  see  in  his  life,  all  his  children  choosing  the 
better  part,  which  can  not  be  taken  away.  O  Lord, 
they  will  be  surrounded  by  temptations ;  do  Thou 
deliver  them,  and  let  not  the  great  riches  which  they 
will  enjoy  prove  snares  to  them;  but  may  they  fol- 
low the  example  of  their  dear  father,  and  do  good 
with  them,  honoring  Thee  with  their  substance,  and 
time,  and  talents.  O  Lord,  hear  and  answer  the  pray- 
ers of  Thine  own  people  in  behalf  of  this  dear  afflict- 
ed family.  And,  0  my  God,  let  me  not  forget  "  to 
praise  Thee  for  the  many  mercies  I  still  enjoy." 


Saturday,  February  1,  1840. 

My  birthday,  and  which  completes  my  threescore 
and  ten  years.  I  can  now  say  with  my  mother,  "I 
have  turned  the  last  point,  and  am  now  waiting  a  fa- 
vorable breeze  to  shoot  into  port."  I  have  spent  the 
day  in  my  room,  as  it  is  a  most  important  era  of  my 
life.  According  to  Scripture,  I  have  lived  the  years 
allotted  to  man,  and  must  now,  if  I  have  not  before, 
daily  expect  to  be  called  to  give  an  account  of  my 
stewardship.  I  have,  on  my  knees,  reviewed  my  past 
life  from  childhood  to  old  age,  confessed  much  sin, 
both  before  and  since  I  professed  the  name  of  Christ, 
but  oh,  how  much  more  might  I  confess !  But  we  for- 
get the  sins  we  commit,  as  well  as  the  mercies  we  re- 


2U 

ceive.  When  I  review  my  past  life,  I  am  amazed  at 
the  goodness  and  mercy  which  has  followed  me  from 
the  cradle,  and  which  I  trust  shall  follow  me  to  the 
grave.  I- have  been  reading  and  praying  over  pas- 
sages marked  and  prayed  over  by  her  in  my  moth- 
er's Bible,  and  reading  and  praying  her  prayers  in 
her  provision  for  passing  over  Jordan.  Lord,  as 
Thou  didst  answer  her  prayers,  so  do  Thou  answer 
mine.  Though  greatly  more  faithful  to  grace  re- 
ceived, yet  it  was  not  for  any  righteousness  in  her, 
but  for  Thy  name's  sake,  that  Thou  didst  grant  her 
petitions.  Now,  O  Lord,  I  would  put  in  my  plea  for 
the  same  reason,  and  ask  of  Thee  to  hear.  Eemem- 
ber  all  the  prayers  I  have  prayed  before  Thee  this 
day,  and  fulfill  all  the  promises  Thou  didst  enable 
me  to  lay  hold  of;  and  O,  be  with  me,  as  Thou  wast 
with  her  and  my  beloved  husband  when  they  passed 
over  Jordan.  If  Thou  hast  any  work  for  me  to  do, 
O  Lord,  I  am  content  to  stay  as  long  as  Thou  shalt 
see  fit ;  but  not  a  day  longer  do  I  wish  to  remain  to 
be  a  cumberer  of  the  ground.  But  shouldst  Thou 
lay  me  aside,  as  Thou  dost  some  of  Thy  people,  O 
enable  me  to  suffer  Thy  holy  will  with  cheerfulness, 
as  I  trust  Thou  hast  enabled  me  to  do  Thy  will. 
And,  0  my  God,  be  in  a  particular  manner  my  Coun- 
selor under  present  difficulties.  My  providence  in- 
dicates that  my  works  are  drawing  to  a  close.  Li- 
fant  School  ISTo.  1,  the  last  of  nine  that  were  once  un- 
der my  care,  will  probably  close  next  May,  and  I 
shall  have  no  pleasant  work  remaining  but  the  dear 


215 

Orphan  Asylum  and  my  little  infant  Sabbath-class. 
But  perhaps  I  shall  have  my  dismission  before  that 
time  comes.  Well,  my  kind  Shepherd,  Thou  wilt 
still  tdke  care  of  the  lambs  as  Thou  hast,  and  wilt  of 
the  sheep.  Oh,  when  those  of  us  who  have  been 
privileged  to  commence  the  good  work  of  infant 
schools  shall  have  ceased  from  our  labors,  do  Thou 
carry  on  the  good  work  throughout  this  land  by  oth- 
ers, who  shall,  with  thy  Word  for  their  guide,  train 
lip  infant  children  in  Thy  nurture'  and  admonition. 
And  oh,  fulfill  Thy  gracious  promise,  that  when  they 
are  old  they  may  not  depart  from  it.  O  raise  up  and 
fit  pious  teachers  for  the  numerous  schools  in  this 
city  and  this  land,  both  during  the  week  and  on  the 
Sabbath.  I  thank  Thee  for  the  honor  of  being  at  the 
commencement  of  both  Sabbath  and  infant  schools; 
and  oh,  I  praise  Thee,  and  would  magnify  Thy  holy 
name,  for  the  great  good  that  has  been  effected  by 
both  to  teachers  and  scholars.  Show  me,  0  Lord, 
my  duty  respecting  the  Orphan  Asylum.  Ought  I 
not  to  spend  more  time  there  than  I  do?  Thou 
knowest  what  is  in  the  way ;  do  Thou  remove  these 
difficulties,  and  make  my  duty  plain. 

Thou  knowest  all  things,  blessed  Master,  and  Thou 
knowest  that  I  love  Thee,  and  love  to  feed  Thy  lambs. 
It  is  not  likely  that  I  shall  have  grandchildren  much 
with  me  in  future,  if  spared,  but  look  on  the  orphan 
I  have  taken  to  bring  up,  and  enable  me  to  do  my 
duty  to  her.  Do  Thou  bless  the  instruction  I  shall 
give  her,  and  the  means  of  grace  she  will  enjoy,  and 
may  she  be  an  heir  of  glory.     Amen. 


216  MRS.  bethuxe's  writings. 


February  26,  1840. 

This  afternoon  Caroline,  Jeannette,  and  Margaretta 
met  me  in  my  room,  to  commence  a  little  prajer- 
meeting.  Twenty-seven  years  ago,  February  4tb, 
1813,  my  dear  mother  made  a  record  of  my  two 
daughters,  Jessy  and  Isabella,  going  to  call  on  their 
pastor,  Dr.  Eomeyn,  and  professing  their  faith  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  their  Savior — their  desire  to  give 
themselves  to  the  Lord  and  to  His  Church.  Now  I 
have  full  satisfaction  in  the  daughter  of  one  of  them 
doing  the  same,  and  have,  on  my  knees,  repeated  for 
her  and  her  young  companions  who  shall  meet  here 
the  prayer  of  her  great-grandmother  for  her  mother 
and  aunt,  and  which  has  been  answered  to  them.  O 
may  it  be  answered  to  my  grandchildren.  She  has 
long  ceased  from  her  labors,  and  now  I  am  the  aged 
handmaid  who  am  privileged  to  make  a  record  of 
God's  goodness  to  my  family,  and  am  encouraged  to 
pray  for  others  of  my  numerous  family  who,  as  yet, 
are  without.  O  Lord,  art  Thou  not  fulfilling  Thy 
gracious  promise,  which  Thou  hast  often  comforted 
me  with,  "  My  Word  shall  not  depart  out  of  thy 
mouth,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed  or  thy  seed's 
seed,  from  henceforth  and  forever?" 


February  9th,  1840. 

This  morning  Adam  Creig,  formerly  an  orphan  in 
the  Asylum,  now  a  student  of  Theology,  called  and 


217 

prayed  in  family  worship.  He  seems  to  have  a  good 
spirit,  an^  I  trust  will  come  out  a  faithful  minister. 
He  dates  his  first  serious  impressions  from  the  time 
he  was  in  the  Asylum.  Says,  previous  to  his  leav- 
ing, at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  he  had  committed  the 
four  Gospels,  and  the  Shorter  Catechism,  with  proofs. 
I  gave  him  a  line  to  Mr.  Wood,  as  he  wished  to  visit 
the  Asylum,  and  begged  him  to  address  the  children, 
and  pray  with  them,  which  I  hope  he  may  do.  Lord, 
accept  of  my  poor  acknowledgments  for  this  manifest- 
ation of  Thy  goodness  to  those  of  us  who  are  anx- 
ious for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  dear  orphans,  and 
may  it  encourage  us  to  be  more  zealous,  and  more 
engaged  in  prayer  to  Thee  than  we  have  been  in 
time  past.  And,  0  my  God,  cheer  my  heart  in  my 
loneliness,  and  remove,  if  it  please  Thee,  this  depres- 
sion of  my  spirits ;  be  better  to  me  than  husband  and 
children,  whom  Thou  hast  put  far  from  me ;  carry 
me  through  the  various  duties  before  me  this  month, 
public  and  private.  0  lift  again  upon  me  the  light 
of  Thy  countenance,  and  cheer  me  by  the  consola- 
tions of  Thy  Holy  Spirit.  Oh,  have  I  not  every  thing 
for  life  and  godliness?  then  why  these  melancholy 
feelings  and  forebodings?  Lord,  forgive  the  sin  and 
answer  my  prayer,  for  the  dear  Kedeemer's  sake,  who 
can  be  touched  with  a  feeling  of  my  infirmities,  and 
maketh  intercession  for  me.     Amen. 

K 


218  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 


Sabbath  evening,  April  19  th,  1840. 

"  Oh  bow  great  is  Thy  goodness,  which  Thou  hast 
laid  up  for  them  that  fear  Thee,  for  them  that  trust 
in  Thee  before  the  sons  of  men."  Who  has  witness- 
ed the  truth  of  this  text  as  much  as  I  have  ?  Why, 
oh  why  am  I  so  favored  above  many  ?  Not  that  I 
deserve  it.  My  dear  husband  wrote  it  on  the  mantle- 
piece  of  the  store  where  he  was  a  clerk,  and  often  ad- 
verted to  it,  and  that  goodness  has  followed  his  fami- 
ly, in  answer  to  his  prayers.  This  day  week  1  re- 
corded a  great  mercy,  a  great  cause  of  thankfulness — 
my  dear  Margaretta's  joining  the  communion  of  the 
Church  for  the  first  time,  and  now  I  have  to  record 
that  my  dear  eldest  grandson  this  day  preached  his 
first  sermon.  Oh,  what  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for 
all  his  goodness  to  me  and  mine,  honoring  me  now 
to  be  called  mother  by  four  of  his  ministering  serv- 
ants? My  dear  husband  and  I  devoted  one  son  to 
Him,  to  be  made  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  he  has 
given  four  to  our  family,  all  of  them  workmen  that 
need  not  be  ashamed. 


February  1,  1841,  my  birthday. 

Not  only  have  I  completed  my  threescore  and  ten 
years,  but  God  has  added  another,  and  I  can  not  say 
yet  that  my  strength  is  labor  and  sorrow.  I  feel  no 
diminution  of  strength,  either  in  body  or  mind,  since 
my  last  birthday,  and  my  health  is  better  than  it  has 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  219 

been  for  many  years.  With  the  exception  of  a  cold, 
I  have  enjoyed  uninterrupted  health,  and  been  able 
to  attend  to  the  Orphan  Asjdum ;  and  my  little  Sab- 
bath-class, except  when  absent  from  the  city,  and 
when  the  children  have  been  prevented  by  stormy 
weather,  has  never  been  once  omitted.  And  now  the 
Lord,  in  answer  to  my  earnest  prayer,  has  given  me 
an  opportunity  of  commemorating  the  instruction  He 
lays  to  hand,  not  only  to  my  little  class,  but  by  print- 
ing them  in  the  Sabbath-school  Monitor.  They  may 
be  teachers  in  Sabbath-schools  in  teaching  infant 
classes.  Thus  I  am  not  yet  laid  aside ;  but  the  Lord 
is  still  pleased,  in  answer  to  my  prayer  and  in  faith- 
fulness to  His  promise,  to  make  me  still  to  bear  fruit 
in  old  age.  O  Lord,  I  desire  to  call  upon  my  soul, 
and  all  that  is  within  me,  to  bless  and  magnify  Thy 
holy  name  for  all  Thy  exuberant  goodness  to  me 
during  the  last  year,  and  during  the  whole  of  my  un- 
worthy life.  When  I  review  the  way  in  which  Thou 
hast  led  me,  I  must  set  to  my  seal  that,  however  I 
have  failed  in  my  duty  to  Thee — and  oh,  how  often 
I  have  failed  and  come  short — yet  Thou  hast  never 
failed  me,  but  fulfilled  all  Thy  gracious  promises  to 
me.  I  have  often  trembled  and  been  ready  to  fall, 
but  Thou  hast  upheld  me  by  Thy  right  hand,  so  that 
I  have  not  been  entirely  cast  down.  Thou  hast  given 
me  still  a  name  to  live  among  Thy  people,  and  pre- 
served me  and  all  my  professing  children  from  bring- 
ing a  blot  on  our  profession.  Spots  we  have,  but 
they  are  incident  to  Thy  children.     And  now,  O 


220  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

Lord,  that  Tliou  art  pleased  still  to  keep  me  here,  oli 
let  my  time  be  more  than  ever  spent  in  doing  good. 
Make  me  yet  more  useful  in  the  Orphan  Asylum,  and 
in  writing  and  publishing  lessons.  Bless  me,  also,  to 
my  own  dear  children  and  children's  children.  I 
thank  Thee  for  what  Thou  hast  done  for  so  many  of 
the  latter.  Carry  on  the  good  work  where  it  has  al- 
ready been  begun ;  revive  it  where  it  seems  to  lan- 
guish. Quicken  us  all  to  newness  of  life ;  and  O, 
most  gracious  God,  begin  a  work  of  grace  in  all  the 
hearts  of  my  grandchildren. 


New  York,  September  18,  1841,  in  my  own  home. 
The  seventeenth  anniversary  of  my  beloved  hus- 
band's dismission  from  a  world  of  care,  and  his  en- 
trance into  that  "  rest  which  remaineth  for  the  peo- 
ple of  God."  As  usual.  I  spend  the  day  in  my  room. 
Blessed  be  God  for  the  privilege.  I  have,  as  I  gener- 
ally do,  spent  much  time  on  my  knees,  reviewing  the 
past  year— endeavoring  to  recollect,  confess,  and  plead 
for  the  pardon  of  my  many  sins  and  shortcomings. 
Alas!  there  are,  no  doubt,  many  that  I  do  not  re- 
member; but  God  does,  and  for  them  I  should  give 
an  account.  I  have  also  been  led  to  pray  for  the 
salvation  of  all  my  children  and  children's  children, 
and  the  revival  of  religion  in  the  hearts  of  all  that 
have  made  a  profession  of  His  name.  May  my  pray- 
ers enter  into  the  ears  of  the  Lord  God  of  Sabaoth, 
and  bring  down  showers  of  blessings  upon  all  their 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  221 

heads.  I  have  also  been  reading  over  my  experi- 
ence of  former  years,  and  am  amazed  at  the  wonder- 
ful goodness  of  God  to  me  and  mine,  and  His  faith- 
fulness to  His  promises.  I  can  scarcely  believe  what 
my  own  hand  has  written,  and  think  how  wonderful- 
ly the  Lord  has  vouchsafed  to  take  knowledge  of  so 
undeserving  a  being  as  I  am;  and  now,  this  anni- 
versary of  the  seventeenth  departure  of  my  ever-to- 
be-regretted  husband,  I  am  constrained  to  raise  an 

Ebenezer, 
saying,  "Hitherto  the  Lord  helped  us;"  and,  with 
David,  while  I  sit  before  the  Lord,  "Who  am  I,  0 
Lord  God,  and  what  is  my  house,  that  Thou  hast 
brought  me  hitherto  ?  and  this  was  yet  a  small  thing 
in  Thy  sight,  O  Lord  God ;  but  Thou  hast  spoken  of 
Thy  servant's  house  for  a  great  while  to  come.  And 
is  this  the  manner  of  man,  0  Lord  God?  and  what 
can  Thy  handmaid  say  unto  Thee  ?  for  Thou,  Lord 
God,  knowest  Thy  servant ;  for  Thy  Word's  sake, 
and  according  to  Thine  own  heart,  hast  Thou  done 
all  these  great  things,  to  make  Thy  servant  know 
them."  And  can  I  ever  doubt  again  that  the  Lord 
will  continue  to  be  what  He  has  been,  my  God  and 
my  Guide  ?  No ;  I  must  and  will  believe  that  He  will 
be  my  God  and  my  Guide  even  unto  death.  I  can 
not  now  be  far  from  Jordan's  flood.  Should  I  live  a 
few  months  longer  I  will  be  as  old  as  my  mother  was 
when  she  departed.  Oh  that  I  may  die  the  death  of 
the  righteous,  and  my  last  end  be  like  hers  and  my 
beloved  husband's.     Lord,  I  trust  that  Thou  wilt 


222  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

stand  bj  me,  as  Thou  didst  by  tliem ;  make  all  my 
bed  in  my  sickness ;  place  underneath  me  Thine  ever- 
lasting arms ;  and  Thou  Thyself  be  my  refuge,  and 
finally  my  exceeding  great  reward."  I  may  have  no 
earthly  friend  near  me,  as  my  blessed  husband  and 
mother  have  gone  before,  and  no  child  near  me,  but 

"Thou  Thyself  will  stand  me  by 
And  every  needful  aid  supply." 

This  was  my  mother's  trust,  yet  she  had  children  and 
children's  children  round  her.  I  endeavor  to  leave 
all  to  that  God  who  has  done  for  me  more  than  I 
could  ask  or  think.     He  will  do  what  is  right. 


Sabbath  evening,  June  11,  1843. 

This  day  I  have  again  been  privileged  to  com- 
memorate the  dying  love  of  my  blessed  Master  and 
Eedeemer,  and  renew  my  covenant  with  Him.  About 
fourteen  or  fifteen  were  admitted  on  confession  of 
their  faith.  Four  adults  were  baptized — three  men 
and  one  woman.  The  exercises  were  most  solemn 
throughout.  My  sweet  friend.  Miss  Fox,  united  with 
us,  and  seemed  thankful  for  the  privilege.  Dr.  Potts's 
subject,  all  last  Sabbath  and  this,  was  Philippians,  iii., 
13.  His  text  was  more  especially  the  13th,  though 
he  commented  on  the  preceding  verse :  "  Brethren,  I 
count  not  myself  to  have  apprehended ;  but  this  one 
thing  I  do,  forgetting  the  things  that  are  behind,  and 
reaching  forth  unto  those  things  that  are  before,  I 
press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  call- 


223 

ing  of  God  in  Clirist  Jesus."  All  his  discourses  were 
excellent,  and  seemed  to  exactly  suit  my  experience 
during  fifty  3^ears  that  I  have  been  an  unworthy  pro- 
fessor. Dr.  Mason,  Dr.  Eomeyn,  Dr.  M'Cartee,  and 
last,  dear  Mr.  Mines,  all  preached  the  same  doctrines, 
and  by  which  I  have  been  fed,  though  I  have  not 
grown  in  the  Divine  life  as  I  ought  to  have  done  had 
I  been  more  diligent ;  and  now  old  age  is  upon  me, 
and  memory  so  far  fails  that  I  carry  little  away  with 
me  from  the  sanctuary  but  the  savor  of  the  delight- 
ful truths  I  have  been  hearing.  Oh  how  thankful  I 
ought  to  be  to  be  again  under  so  gifted  a  pastor.  I 
am  indeed  feeding  in  green  pastures,  and  led  by  the 
quiet  waters.  It  is  the  same  congregation,  though 
much  changed,  that  my  beloved  husband  and  mother 
departed  from,  and  most  probably  I  shall  finish  my 
course  there.  I  have  little  communion  with  the  peo- 
ple, being  nearly  all  strangers  except  dear  Mrs.  Coit, 
whom  the  Lord  reward  for  her  kindness  to  the  wid- 
ow. Blessed  be  the  God  who  has  led  me  and  fed  me 
all  my  life  long,  and  who  has  promised  to  be  my  God 
and  my  Guide  even  unto  death.  My  blessed  Master, 
Thou  wilt  never  leave  nor  forsake  me,  though  I  have 
often  forsaken  Thee.  Lord,  look  on  the  texts  that  I 
copied  for  preparing  for  the  holy  feast,  and  fulfill  the 
gracious  promises  contained  in  them  to  me.  O  ena- 
ble me  to  press  toward  the  mark  of  my  high  calling 
in  Christ  Jesus.  O  Lord,  the  way  has  been  long  and 
devious.  I  can  not  now  be  far  from  Jordan's  flood. 
Oh,  as  Thou  didst  my  mother  and  my  ever-to-be-la- 


224  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

mented  husband,  lead  on  my  staggering  steps  the  little 
farther.  Is  it  too  much  to  ask  that  Thy  sensible  pres- 
ence may  be  with  me,  as  with  them,  all  the  way 
through  the  dark  valley  ?  Lord,  though  my  life  has 
not,  like  theirs,  been  the  path  of  the  just,  shining 
more  and  more  to  the  perfect  day,  yet  grant  that  my 
latter  end  may  be,  like  theirs,  ^eace.  Thou  only 
knowest  whether  I  shall  see  another  communion  sea- 
son. Then,  Lord,  assist  me  by  Thy  grace  to  improve 
that  I  have  now  enjoyed,  that  the  savor  of  it  may 
cheer  my  dying  hour.  Blessed  Comforter,  promised 
by  my  dear  Master,  take  of  the  things  which  are  His, 
and  show  them  unto  me.     Oh, 

"  Let  me  no  longer  live  at  this  poor  dying  rate. 
My  love  to  Him  so  cold,  and  His  to  me  so  great." 

And  as  to  temporals,  which  so  distract  me,  I  can  only 
cast  my  burden  on  the  Lord,  for  He  only  can  sustain, 
and  continue  to  pray  that  Thou  wouldst  make  plain 
paths  for  our  feet.  Only  show  us  the  path  of  duty, 
and,  by  the  aid  of  Thy  grace  and  strength,  we  will 
endeavor  to  walk  therein.  My  prayer  is  before  Thee, 
O  Lord ;  forsake  not  the  work  of  Thy  hands.  I  leave 
my  children  and  children's  children  with  Thee,  to 
give  or  to  withhold  temporal  blessings ;  but  oh,  I  can 
not  let  Thee  go,  but  would  wrestle  with  Thee  until 
Thou  grant  spiritual  blessings.  Though  separated 
from  each  other  on  earth,  may  we  all,  I  and  the  chil- 
dren whom  Thou  hast  given  me,  rejoice  with  Thee  at 
last,  no  wanderer  lost. 

*'  A  family  in  heaven  !"    Let  this  delightful  thought 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  225 

and  hope  cheer  me  under  present  perplexities.  Amen. 
Come,  Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly. 


Thursday,  October  3d,  1844. 

The  Eev.  James  W.  Alexander,  D.D.,  was  installed 
over  the  Duane  Street  Church.  His  aged  father 
preached  the  sermon,  and  an  excellent  one  it  was, 
from  2  Timothy,  ii.,  15:  "Study  to  show  thyself  ap- 
proved unto  God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth :"  well 
did  he  describe  what  a  pastor  ought  to  be.  Dr.  Potts 
gave  the  charge  to  the  minister.  It  seemed  hard  to 
hear  our  former  pastor,  as  it  were,  giving  us  over  into 
the  hands  of  another.  I  enjoyed  that  part  less  than 
the  rest  of  the  exercises.  Dr.  Krebs  gave  the  charge 
to  the  congregation:  the  burden  of  it  was  asking 
their  prayers  for  the  pastor  elect,  and  for  all  minis- 
ters. Ministers  are  but  men,  but  we  are  too  apt  to 
think  they  ought  to  be  more  than  men.  If  we  are 
fed  and  comforted  by  them,  we  are  apt  to  make  idols 
of  them,  and  forget  that,  though  the  treasure  is  in  an 
earthen  vessel,  it  is  still  God's,  and  he  giveth  to  the 
faithful  preacher  the  food  to  feed  his  flock. 


Sabbath,  October  6th,  1844. 
Another  new  era  in  my  long  life.     Our  new  pastor 
preached  this  day  for  the  first  time  to  this  people  over 
whom  the  Lord  has  set  him.     His  text  in  the  morn- 
K2 


226  MRS.  bethune's  WRiTmas. 

ing  was  Psalm  li.,  12th  and  13th  verses :  "  Restore 
unto  me  the  joy  of  Thy  salvation,  and  uphold  me 
with  Thy  free  Spirit ;  then  will  I  teach  transgress- 
ors Thy  ways,  and  sinners  shall  be  converted  unto 
Thee."  He  seemed  to  feel  greatly  the  great  respon- 
sibility he  had  assumed,  and  from  his  whole  discourse 
I  should  think  he  felt  hirnself  entirely  dependent  on 
God.  I  thought  there  was  rather  a  melancholy  feel- 
ing and  thinking  who  was  sufficient  for  such  a  work. 
He  began  by  describing  the  joy  the  Christian  first 
felt  when  converted,  and  the  dreadful  feeling  when 
God,  in  anger,  took  it  away ;  especially  when,  as  in 
David's  case,  in  anger  for  great  sin.  That  no  one 
could  teach  others  so  as  to  see  them  converted  to 
God  unless  that  joy  was  restored,  etc.,  etc.  In  the 
afternoon  he  illustrated  the  16th,  17th,  18th,  and  19th 
verses  of  the  11th  chapter  of  the  Gospel  of  Matthew. 
It  was,  indeed,  "a  feast  of  fat  things,  of  wine  on  the 
lees  well  refined."  And  thus  the  Lord  has  again  an- 
swered my  prayers,  and  given  me  a  pastor,  I  trust,  to 
feed  and  comfort  me  during  the  closing  years,  months, 
or  days  of  my  long  life.  O  may  this  change  result 
in  a  revival  of  the  languishing  graces  of  the  people, 
and,  O  my  blessed  Master,  revive  my  languishing 
graces.  At  evening  time  may  it  be  light  in  my  soul. 
O  gracious  God,  restore  unto  me  the  joy  of  Thy  sal- 
vation. O  Lord,  bless  pastor  and  people,  and  incline 
his  heart,  and  the  hearts  of  some  of  them,  to  think  of 
the  solitary  widow,  and  make  my  little  dwelling  once 
more  to  rejoice  with  the  sound  of  prayer  and  praise. 


MKS.  bethune's  writings.  227 

Bless  my  Sabbath  class ;  I  tliank  Thee  for  strength 
to  continue  it.  Bless  me  to  my  domestics ;  I  thank 
Thee  for  them.  Bless  me  to  the  Orphan  Asylum; 
bring  us  out  of  diflS.culties  there.  0  give  me  those 
whose  sole  desire  is  to  train  up  a  seed  to  serve  Thee, 
and  not  to  aggrandize  themselves.  Eestore  peace 
among  those  employed  as  superintendents  and  teach- 
ers ;  and,  0  Lord,  raise  up  and  give  wisdom  to  those 
who  shall  take  charge  of  the  Institution  when  my 
head  and  the  head  of  Mrs.  H.  are  at  rest.  Incline 
the  hearts  of  those  whom  I  address  on  behalf  of  the 
Institution  to  give  us  the  means  necessary  for  the 
health  and  comfort  of  Thy  family,  the  fatherless. 
And  now  I  again  go  forward  in  the  strength  of  the 
food  I  have  this  day  received.  Go  with  me;  set  a 
watch  on  my  lips ;  enable  me  to  conquer  every  sin ; 
and  that  which  so  easily  besets  me.  Lord,  Thou 
knowest.  Again  accept  Thine  own  time,  talent,  and 
substance,  and  teach  me  to  use  them  for  Thee,  for 
without  Thee  I  can  do  nothing — no,  not  so  much  as 
think  a  good  thought ;  but  I  can  do  all  Thou  hast 
given  me  to  do  through  Christ  Jesus  strengthening 
me.  Yea,  Lord,  enable  me  to  say,  "  I  will  go  in  the 
strength  of  the  Lord  God ;  I  will  make  mention  of 
Thy  righteousness,  even  of  Thine  only.  O  God, 
Thou  hast  taught  me  from  my  youth,  and  hitherto  I 
have  declared  Thy  wondrous  works.  Now  also,  when 
I  am  old  and  gray-headed,  0  God,  forsake  me  not, 
until  I  have  showed  Thy  strength  unto  this  genera- 


228 


December  12th,  1844.     Thanksgiving  day. 

Dr.  Alexander  read  the  103d  Psalm,  and  took  for 
his  text  the  1st  verse  of  the  107th  Psalm:  "0  give 
thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is  good ;  for  his  mercy 
endureth  forever."  It  was  an  excellent,  instructive 
discourse.  He  enumerated  the  causes  of  thankful- 
ness we  had  as  a  nation,  as  members  of  the  state, 
as  a  congregation,  and  as  individuals.  He  alluded 
to  bereavements  in  the  Church,  but  said  still  there 
were  causes  of  thankfulness  that  we  had  the  hope 
of  meeting  where  there  would  be  no  separation. 
He  also  alluded  to  the  custom,  which  he  thought 
very  proper,  of  family  meetings ;  slightly  alluded  to 
his  own  situation,  at  a  distance  from  his  father's 
house. 

Here  am  I  alone,  not  one  to  sit  down  to  dinner 
with  me ;  3^et,  amid  trials  and  dif6.culties,  I  can  enu- 
merate many  causes  of  thankfulness.  All  our  fami- 
lies are  preserved  in  life  and  a  measure  of  health ;  no 
breach  has  been  made  in  any  of  them ;  all  the  heads 
and  seven  of  the  younger  ones  professors,  and,  we 
have  reason  to  hope,  possessors  of  religion ;  none  like- 
ly to  disgrace  us;  my  beloved  son,* both  my  sons-in- 
law,  and  my  grandson,  George  Duf&eld,  useful  in  the 
Church,  and  granddaughters  Sunday-school  teachers 
and  tract  distributors;  Bethune  M'Cartee  a  medical 
missionary  in  China,  where  I  trust  he  will  be  useful 
to  the  souls  and  bodies  of  that  benighted  people. 
Surely  these  are  great  causes  of  thankfulness,  and 


229 

ought  to  call  forth  "thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  He  is 
good,  for  His  mercy  endureth  forever." 


Sabbath,  29th  Dec,  1844,  the  last  Sabbath  of  the  year. 

Dr.  Alexander  preached  from  the  "  grain  of  mus- 
tard-seed." It  was  an  admirable  rousing  discourse. 
I  felt  a  little  heavy  during  the  first  part,  having  no 
one  to  help  me  in  my  Sabbath  class ;  but  no  one  could 
help  being  roused  up  when,  after  speaking  of  seed 
sown  generations  ago,  he  alluded  to  some  lying  long 
dormant,  yet  springing  up  and  yielding  abundant 
fruit  in  the  same  place ;  and  said  that  one  time  there 
was  little  or  no  religion  in  Yirginia,  when  a  man  (I 
forget  his  name)  had  Luther  on  the  Galatians,  and 
had  meetings,  and  read  the  book  to  the  people,  and 
it  w^as  the  beginning  of  a  revival  or  awakening  which 
has  continued  to  this  day.  He  showed  it  to  be  the 
duty  of  every  one  to  sow  the  seed,  and  to  hope  and 
trust  that  it  would  not  return  void.  Some  persons 
do  nothing  but  croak  and  moan  over  the  low  state  of 
religion ;  but  we  must  not  only  sow  the  seed,  but 
must  hojoe  and  believe  that  it  eventually  will  prove 
successful  in  some.  He  addressed  us  all  in  the  church, 
officers,  parents,  heads  of  families,  tract  distributors, 
teachers  of  schools  and  Sabbath-school  teachers,  all, 
all  he  called  upon  to  be  up  and  doing.  May  the  close 
of  the  year  be  a  beginning  of  days  to  our  Church ; 
and  may  we  see  a  revival  the  coming  year,  such  as 
some  of  us  saw  more  than  twenty  years  ago.     Lord, 


230  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

here  am  I,  send  me ;  show  me  what  I  can  do.  I 
thank  Thee  that  Thou  still  givest  me  strength  of 
body  and  mind  to  keep  up  my  Sabbath  class  and  visit 
the  Orphan  Asylum ;  but  still,  if  I  can  do  more,  show 
it  me,  blessed  Master.  I  would  like  to  have  an  even- 
ing prayer-meeting  in  my  house  or  family.  If  that 
can  not  be,  is  it  my  duty  to  try  to  get  up  a  female 
prayer-meeting  ?  Lord,  I  ask  of  Thee,  is  it  my  duty? 
and  if  it  be,  do  Thou  direct,  and  make  the  path  of 
duty  plain.  May  my  pastor  show  me  how  I  may  ac- 
complish something  toward  reviving  Thy  love  in  the 
hearts  of  the  people  of  Duane  Street  Church.  O  the 
prayers  that  are  before  Thy  throne  for  that  church ! 
Did  not  Thy  dear  handmaid,  my  mother,  spend  her 
last  praying  breath  in  it,  praying  there  for  her  seed, 
and  her  seed's  seed,  and  the  prosperity  of  Thy  Zion  ? 
Did  not  Thy  dear  servant,  an  officer  there,  visit  sick 
and  dying  beds  there  ?  and  did  he  not  see  fruit  there  ? 
Did  not  many  weep  over  his  cold  remains,  and  say, 
"  There  lies  my  best  friend  ?"  Did  not  my  mother 
and  my  blessed  husband  depart  from  that  congrega- 
tion? and  were  not  their  funeral  sermons  preached 
there  ?  And  did  not  my  husband  tell  me  to  tell  his 
brethren  to  sing  the  Psalm,  as  expressive  of  his  dymg 
exercise, 

''I'll  praise  my  Maker  while  I've  breath, 
And  when  my  voice  is  lost  in  death, 
Praise  shall  employ  my  nobler  powers?" 

And  now  that  God,  in  His  providence,  has  brought 
me  back  to  it,  and  it  is  likely  to  be  my  last  remove, 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  231 

shall  I  not  pmy  for  the  peace  of  this  Jerusalem,  where 
my  mother  and  husband  were  comforted  in  death ; 
where  my  daughters  were  born  into  the  kingdom, 
and  where  my  beloved  son  was  trained  for  it?  Oh, 
if  I  forget  thee,  may  my  right  hand  forget  her  cun- 
ning. Show  me  then,  blessed  Master,  how  I  may  yet 
bring  forth  fruit  on  the  topmost  bough,  and  promote 
the  revival  of  our  languishing  graces  in  the  Church. 
My  prayer  is  before  Thee,  0  Lord.  I  wait  for  Thy 
answer.     Come,  Lord  Jesus !  come  quickly.     Amen. 


Januaiy  5,  1845. 

0  Lord,  I  would  thank  Thee  for  my  beloved  son. 
Eeward  him,  O  Lord,  for  his  dutiful  and  affectionate 
conduct  to  his  aged  mother.  Truly  he  does  not  de- 
spise her  when  she  is  old,  but  grows  more  and  more 
affectionate  and  grateful  to  me  the  less  I  can  do  to 
help  him.  And,  0  Lord,  I  would  also  thank  Thee 
for  all  my  children  and  children's  children  who  have 
professed  the  name  of  Christ ;  that  they  have  been, 
in  some  degree,  faithful  to  their  vows,  and  that  they 
have  been  restrained  by  Thy  grace  from  bringing 
any  scandal  on  their  profession.  0,  gracious  God, 
continue  to  keep  Thy  hand  about  us  xill,  and  may 
those  who  are  yet  in  the  outer  sanctuary  have  Thy 
sceptre  extended  to  them,  and  let  there  not  be  one  of 
my  seed  or  seed's  seed  wanting  in  the  day  when  Thou 
makest  up  Thy  jewels.  Remember  their  dear  father's 
prayer:   "Of  them,  in  every  age,  may  it  be  said, 


232  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

These  are  they  wliicli  bring  the  sacrifices  of  praise 
unto  the  house  of  the  Lord." 

Bless  my  dear  old  friend,  Mrs.  Lindsay.  0  carry 
her  in  Thy  arms  through  the  dark  valley,  and.  whis- 
per peace  to  her  dying  spirit,  as  Thou  didst  carry  her 
friends  through,  my  dear  mother  and  husband.  She 
told  me  that  when  her  husband  heard  of  his  death  he 
exclaimed,  "  Help,  Lord,  for  the  godly  man  ceaseth !" 
She  is  the  last  of  my  intimate  friends  whom  I  knew 
in  Cedar  Street  Church  (Dr.  M.'s).  "Lover  and 
friend  Thou  hast  put  far  from  me,  and  my  acquaint- 
ance in  darkness."  If  I  dare,  I  would  wish  to  join 
them.  Lord,  give  me  grace  to  say,  "  All  the  days  of 
my  appointed  time  will  I  wait  till  my  change  come." 

Bless  my  instructions  in  the  Sabbath  class.  I  thank 
Thee  for  fruit  there.  May  I  see  yet  more ;  and  when 
my  head  is  at  rest  in  the  grave,  may  the  seed  spring 
up  and  bear  fruit. 


January  26th,  1845. 
O  my  God,  give  me  fruit  in  my  Sabbath  class.  I 
thank  Thee  for  strength  of  body  to  continue  it.  Bless 
also  the  boy  Pye,  in  Dr.  Ferris's  church,  and  bless  John 
Scott,  who  has  been  so  long  in  the  Asylum,  and  is 
now  about  to  leave  it.  Lord,  may  he  be  a  subject  of 
grace;  and  keep  Thy  hand  about  dear  Eichmond 
Morse,  and  carry  on  the  good  work  which  I  trust  has 
been  begun  in  his  young  heart.  Lord,  aid  me  in  pre- 
paring the  children  for  the  anniversary;   show  me 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  233 

what  my  duty  is ;  set  a  watcli  upon  my  lips,  that  I 
offend  not  with  my  tongue ;  yet  give  me  courage  to 
do  my  duty,  and  show  boldly  what  I  see  to  be  the 
duty  of  the  Board.  Lord,  forsake  me  not  at  this  try- 
ing time.  I  leave  this  heavy  burden  upon  Thee,  my 
compassionate  Master,  Thou  who  didst  bear  the  con- 
tradiction of  sinners.     And  O  teach  Miss to  be 

prudent,  and  be  more  anxious  to  keep  peace,  if  she 
can  not  make  it. 

"May  the  clouds  I  so  much  dread 
Be  big  with  mercy,  and  so  break 
In  blessings  on  our  head." 

Amen. 


Saturday,  1st  of  February,  1845,  my  birthday. 

This  day  completes  my  seventy-fifth  year,  three 
years  more  than  my  blessed  mother  saw.  As  for 
my  father,  he  was  cut  down  in  the  bloom  of  life. 
My  grandfather,  who  died  at  that  age,  was  in  second 
childhood  for  a  year,  having  had  three  attacks  of  ap- 
oplexy. And  here  am  I,  with  all  my  faculties  ap- 
parently unimpaired,  except  my  memory,  which  only 
obliges  me  to  keep  memorandums.  Blessed  be  God 
for  all  his  loving-kindness  to  me,  however  undeserv- 
ing; truly  may  I  say,  '' Goodness  and  mercy  have 
followed  me  all  my  life;"  and  may  I  not  trust  my 
God  that  I  shall  dwell  in  His  house  forevermore? 
My  forefathers  trusted  in  Thee,  O  Lord  ;  they  trusted, 
and  Thou  didst  deliver  them.  They  trusted  in  Thee, 
and  were  not  confounded.     But  it  would  seem  now 


234 

that  I  am  no  longer  thought  of  by  some  who  have 
known  me  comparatively  but  for  a  short  time,  old 
friends  having  been  removed  either  by  death  or  dis- 
tance. I  have  not  one  left  in  the  Board  with  whom 
I  can  take  sweet  counsel,  as  in  former  times.  My  be- 
loved mother,  dear  Mrs.  Hoffman,  Mrs.  Startin,  Mrs. 
Sadler,  Miss  Ogden,  Miss  Onderdonk,  and  last,  and 
certainly  not  least,  my  still  beloved  friend  Miss  Don- 
aldson, who  always  helped  me,  particularly  at  this 
season,  when  preparing  for  the  anniversary.  Gracious 
God,  Thou  wilt  never  leave  me  nor  forsake  me.  Let 
them  with  whom  I  associate  not  laugh  me  to  scorn, 
but  may  they  see  that  "  Thou  hast  delivered  me  be- 
cause I  delighted  in  Thee;"  Thou  art  He  that  took 
me  out  of  the  womb ;  Thou  didst  make  me  to  hope 
when  I  was  on  my  mother's  breast;  I  was  cast  on 
Thee  (by  her)  from  the  womb.  "Be  not,  then,  far 
from  me,  0  Lord;  for  trouble  is  near,  and  there  is 
none  to  help."  My  aged  associate  being  absent  leaves 
more  upon  me  in  the  Asylum.  Lord,  look  on  this 
Institution,  which  thine  own  hand  planted,  and  which 
has  been  a  blessing  to  many,  and  forsake  us  not  when 
we  are  old  and  gray-headed. 

How  often  have  I  devoted  to  Thee  time,  talents, 
and  substance !  I  now  renew  the  dedication,  though 
little  remains  of  either.  I  am  too  old,  and  time  too 
short,  to  accomplish  much,  but  still  may  there  be  fruit 
on  the  topmost  bough.  My  eyes  are  still,  as  in  for- 
mer troubles,  unto  Thee,  O  Thou  that  dwellest  in  the 
heavens.     Behold,  as  the  eyes  of  servants  look  unto 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  235 

tlie  hand  of  their  masters,  and  as  the  eyes  of  a  maiden 
unto  the  hand  of  her  mistress,  so  my  eyes  wait  upon 
God,  until  that  He  have  mercy  upon  us  in  the  Or- 
phan Asylum. 

Gracious  God,  pardon  all  the  sins  of  the  past  year ; 
and  as  the  outward  man  decays,  may  the  inward  man 
be  renewed  day  by  day.  Lord,  hear ;  Lord,  answer, 
and  defer  not.     I  ask, 

"In  the  last  distressing  hour, 
Do  Thou  display  delivering  power. 
The  mount  of  danger  is  the  place 
"Where  oft  we  see  surprising  grace." 

Amen.     Do  as  Thou  hast  said. 


April  27,  Sabbath. 

Dr.  Alexander  mentioned  Eobert  Haldane.  My 
beloved  husband  and  I  knew  him  well,  and  often 
united  with  him  in  prayer  for  the  spread  of  the  Word 
of  God.  My  dear  companion  was  a  perfect  Concord- 
ance ;  could  give  chapter  and  verse  when  he  quoted 
Scripture.  When  I  was  going  to  read  my  mother's 
provision  for  passing  Jordan  when  he  was  passing 
away,  he  said,  "No,  take  the  Bible  itself;  read  the 
14th  of  John's  Gospel."  While  turning  it  up,  he  said, 
"  The  Bible !  the  Bible !  no  tongue  can  tell  what  the 
Bible  has  been  to  me."  And,  after  twenty  years' 
more  experience,  I  can  say  the  same. 


286 


Philadelphia,  November  2,  1845,  Sabbath. 

This  day  my  beloved  son  preached  from  the  20th 
and  21st  verses  of  the  Epistle  of  Jude.  He  had 
only  a  skeleton,  having  been  prevented  from  writing 
out  his  sermon  by  the  illness  of  his  brother-in-law. 
He  was  much  troubled  before  he  went  because  he 
thought  himself  so  ill  prepared.  I  told  hini  the  Lord 
would  bless  him,  and  He  certainly  did,  for  he  never 
preached  the  Gospel  more  fully,  or  with  apparently 
more  Divine  wisdom.  When  he  remarked  that  the 
babes  in  Christ  must  be  fed  with  milk,  but  that  the 
more  advanced  Christians,  having  to  labor  and  to  be 
growing  in  usefulness,  must  have,  necessarily,  stron- 
ger and  more  nourishing  food,  a  tender  thought  cross- 
ed my  mind,  that  the  Lord,  in  answer  to  my  husband's 
prayers  and  my  own,  had  given  me  to  be  fed  with 
strong  meat  by  him  whom  I  had  fed  with  milk,  spir- 
itual and  temporal — the  latter  from  my  own  breast ; 
and  I  was  much  affected,. as  must  have  been  observed 
by  several.  I  now  record  my  thankfulness  to  the 
prayer-hearing  and  prayer-answering  God ;  He  who 
leads  His  people  to  pray  for  what  He  designs  to  be- 
stow. 

I  have  been  much  gratified  by  my  present  visit, 
witnessing  an  evident  improvement  and  growth  in 
the  Divine  life  of  my  son.  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my 
soul ;  and  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  and  magnify 
His  holy  name.  O  let  me  be  thankful  for  apparently 
the  full  answer  to  my  dear  husband's  prayers  for  his 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  237 

beloved  son  forty  years  ago,  and  may  I  profit  by  his 
preaching  this  day. 


Sabbath,  Jan.  4, 1846. 

Heard  Dr.  Alexander  in  the  forenoon ;  his  text  was 
from  the  136th  Psalm,  1st  verse :  "  0  give  thanks  unto 
the  Lord,  for  His  mercy  endureth  forever."  He  al- 
luded to  many  causes  of  thankfulness  as  a  Church, 
now  that  we  had  completed  one  year  from  beginning 
to  end ;  said  the  Session  were  going  to  visit  through 
the  congregation,  that  they  might  become  acquainted 
with  the  members ;  that  he,  as  pastor,  was  going  to 
commence  his  pastoral  visits  with  the  year.  I  rejoice 
that  he  seems  to  be  happy  among  us.  Long,  long 
may  the  Lord  spare  him  to  us.  As  for  me,  my  time 
is  fast  drawing  to  a  close.  Oh,  at  evening  time  may 
it  be  light,  and  may  this  dear  servant  of  God  comfort 
me  while  passing  through  the  dark  valley.  Amid 
many  trials  and  diffi.culties  in  worldly  matters,  I  have 
to  record  an  event  which,  while  it  rejoiced  my  heart, 
caused  tears  of  gratitude  to  flow.  Who  am  I,  O 
Lord  ?  and  all  my  father's  house,  that  Thou  shouldst 
honor  me  thus  ?  This  day,  at  my  Sabbath  class,  Al- 
exander Husted  said  to  me,  "I  mean  to  begin  the 
year  by  serving  the  Lord."  How  it  thrilled  through 
my  heart  to  hear  him  say  so.  He  was  the  first  that 
entered  my  class  September,  1839,  and  he  has  steadi- 
ly attended  it  ever  since,  when  well,  and  when  I  have 
been  in  the  city.     I  have  never  needed  to  send  for 


238 

the  children:  tliey  always  are  ready  to  return,  and 
have  ever  taken  pleasure  in  the  exercise.  He  makes 
the  third  who  have  become  Christians — I  trust  not 
the  last.  He  will  unite  with  the  Church  next  Sab- 
bath. My  heart  yearns  over  one  I  can  not  help 
considering  my  spiritual  child.  Lord,  keep  Thy  hand 
about  him,  and,  should  he  be  a  suitable  one  to  become 
a  minister,  provide  the  means  for  his  education. 


August  30,  1846. 
Dr.  Alexander  this  afternoon  preached  from  the 
67th  verse  of  the  119th  Psalm :  "  Before  I  was  af- 
flicted I  went  astray;  but  now  have  I  kept  Thy 
word ;"  a  most  instructing  and  comforting  discourse, 
and  suited  the  experience  of  my  long  life.  May  God 
bless  it  to  those  of  our  congregation,  of  whom  there 
are  not  a  few,  now  in  deep  affliction.  I  am  not  one 
who  has  not  seen  affliction,  and  I  may  read  my  sin  in 
my  punishment  in  some  of  my  afflictions.  Lord, 
give  me  the  sanctified  use  of  them  all.  In  all  much 
mercy  has  been  mine.  Only  do  Thou,  gracious 
God,  bring  all  my  family  within  the  bounds  of  Thy 
covenant,  and  I  put  a  blank  into  Thy  hands  as  to 
worldly  blessings. 


September  6,  1846. 
In  the  afternoon  we  had  a  most  rousing  discourse 
from  Rev.  Dr.  Plummer,  of  Virginia.      He  had  no 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  239 

notes  or  written  sermon.  His  delivery  is  very  unlike 
our  dear  pastor,  but  his  matter  was  most  excellent, 
and  it  must  be  a  hard  heart  that  could  be  unmoved 
under  it.  His  text  was  Hebrews,  vii.,  25 :  ''  Where- 
fore He  is  able  to  save  them  unto  the  uttermost  that 
come  unto  God  by  Him  (Jesus),  seeing  He  ever  liveth 
to  make  intercession  for  them."  May  the  Lord  bless 
it  to  his  hearers.  None  need  despair  who  heard  him. 
He  had  many  tender  expressions;  many  of  them 
floating  in  my  memory,  though  I  can  not  set  them 
down,  something  like  the  following:  Jesus,  in  His 
agony  on  the  cross,  while  His  mother  was  before 
Him,  and  others  dear  to  Him,  attended  only  to  the 
dying  thief,  who  "called  on  Him  to  remember  him 
when  He  came  to  His  kingdom."  Jesus  replied, 
while  the  blood  was  trickling  from  His  side  to  save 
him,  "  This  day  thou  shalt  be  with  me  in  Paradise." 
He  said  many  of  the  Lord's  chosen  ones  were  from 
the  greatest  sinners ;  Abraham,  who  was  called  the 
father  of  the  faithful,  was,  as  well  as  his  father,  an 
idolator.  Jesus  himself  chose  His  disciples  from 
those  who  had  the  least  appearance  of  religion,  fisher- 
men, publicans.  When  Peter  denied  his  Master  with 
cursijig  and  swearing,  it  showed  his  early  habit ;  yet 
his  Master,  knowing  his  contrition,  told  the  woman 
to  tell  His  disciples  that  He  was  risen,  and  said,  '■'■and 
Peter  i'^  poor  Peter,  whom  he  seemed  to  mention  par- 
ticularly. Paul,  too,  was  another  desperately  wicked 
character ;  j^et,  when  Christ  called  him,  he  immediate- 
ly acknowledged  Him  and  believed  in  Him. 


240 


September  13,  1846. 
This  afternoon  Dr.  Alexander  dispensed  the  com- 
munion. I  hope  it  was  a  good  time.  He  told  us  of 
many  things  we  ought  to  pray  for  at  a  communion 
season,  but  he  gave  us  very  little  time.  /  do  love  a 
long  jKiuse.  Oh  how  many  prayers  have  been  answer- 
ed, put  up  at  such  seasons.  After  service  I  went  to 
visit  good  Mr.  H.,  and  had  an  interesting  conversa- 
tion with  him.  His  dear  wife,  he  told  me,  had  her 
senses  to  the  last.  She  was  an  excellent  Christian 
woman,  and  well  served  her  day  and  generation. 
Thus  friend  after  friend  departs.  I  am  nearly  left 
alone  of  all  those  who  labored  with  me  in  the  socie- 
ties in  years  past.  Well,  my  time  can  not  be  long ; 
only  let  my  God  lift  up  His  countenance  upon  me, 
and  give  me  the  support  He  gave  my  beloved  moth- 
er and  husband,  and  I  am  willing  to  go  whenever  He 
sees  fit  to  call  me. 


September  18,  1846. 
The  twenty-second  anniversar}^  of  my  beloved  hus- 
band's entrance  on  his  eternal  rest,  and  of  my  com- 
mencing the  lonely  and  trying  life  of  a  widow.  I 
have  again,  for  the  twenty-second  time,  shut  my  door 
against  company,  that  I  might  commune  with  my 
God,  who  condescends  to  be  the  Husband  of  the  wid- 
ow, the  Father  of  the  fatherless,  the  Friend  of  the 
stranger — the  God  who  has  led  me  and  fed  me  all  my 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  2il 

life  long,  and  of  whom  I  can  say,  "  not  one  word  has 
failed  of- all  that  lie  promised."  I  have  been  reading 
nearly  all  the  exercises  of  former  years,  and  find  that 
many,  very  many  of  the  prayers  recorded  are  still 
suitable  to  the  present  day.  Many  of  them  have 
been  answered  to  me  and  mine ;  but  as  long  as  we 
are  in  this  vale  of  tears,  we  must  still  meet  with  trials 
of  our  faith ;  still,  on  reviewing  our  past  lives,  we 
find  much  sin  and  many  shortcomings  to  repent  of, 
and  must  again  return  to  the  fountain  opened,  and 
wash  and  be  clean.  Gracious  God,  the  God  and  Fa- 
ther of  our  blessed  Savior,  hear  the  prayer  of  Thy 
widowed  handmaid  for  herself  and  those  nearest  and 
dearest  to  her.  O  may  the  time  soon  come — 0  may 
it  come  before  another  anniversary — that  all  my  chil- 
dren's children  may  be  taught  of  God.  It  is  a  long 
time  since  we  rejoiced  over  the  second  birth  of  any 
of  the  third  generation,  yet  there  are  several  older 
than  their  mothers  were  when  they  came  out  from 
the  world,  and  took  the  easy  yoke  of  Christ  upon 
them.  There  are  yet  six  in  one  family  and  four  in 
another — precious  souls,  the  seed's  seed  of  Thy  dear 
departed  servant,  who  were  the  subjects  of  his  pray- 
ers, though  he  never  saw  them.  Yet  the  promise  is 
the  same  as  when  first  given :  ''  My  "Word  shall  not 
depart  out  of  thy  mouth,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of 
thy  seed,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  seed's  seed, 
from  henceforth  and  forever."  Oh  what  a  promise ! 
Lord,  enable  Thy  widowed  handmaid  and  the  parents 
of  these  children  to  pray,  and  believe  that  Thou  wilt 

L 


242  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

falfill  it  to  all  who  are  yet  •without.  O  may  they 
have  the  one  thing  needful,  and  then  we  know  that 
what  is  necessary  of  temporal  blessings  Thou  wilt  not 
withhold.  Look  in  an  esjDecial  manner  on  the  youth 
now  staying  with  me;  enable  me  to  do  my  duty  to 
him,  and  give  me  to  see  him,  as  I  saw  his  sisters,  hum- 
bled under  a  sense  of  sin,  and  then  rejoicing  in  the 
liberty  wherewith  Christ  makes  His  people  free. 


February  1,  1847,  my  birthday. 

Seventy-seven  years  to-day,  and  five  years  older 
than  my  dear  mother  was  when  she  departed,  and 
twenty -two  and  a  half  older  than  my  ever-to-be-la- 
mented husband  was ;  yet  here  I  am,  in  better  health 
than  I  was  when  younger,  and  my  mind  still  con- 
tinues clear,  and,  except  that  I  can  not  remember  as 
well  as  formerly  what  I  hear  or  what  I  read,  yet 
when  I  charge  it,  and  keep  memoranda,  I  seldom  neg- 
lect my  various  duties.  Lord,  make  me  more  thank- 
ful for  all  my  mercies,  which  are  many,  and  submis- 
sive to  Thy  holy  will  in  all  the  trials  and  difficulties 
which  press  upon  me.  Hear  my  prayer  in  the  first 
five  verses  of  the  fifth  Psalm,  and  the  11th  and  12th 
verses.  I  have  much  to  bless  Thy  name  for  since  my 
last  birthday.  I  have  enjoyed  many  spiritual  bless- 
ings, and  have  not  been  disappointed  in  answers  to 
all  my  prayers,  and  try  to  wait  patiently  for  answers 
to  others.  I  thank  Thee,  I  bless  and  magnify  Thy 
name,  that  another  of  my  dear  grandchildren  has  de- 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  243 

termined  tliat,  whatever  others  do,  she  will  serve  the 
Lord — Jessy  M. ;  Lord,  take  this  lamb  into  Thine 
arms,  and  shelter  her  in  Thy  bosom.  Lord,  if  it  may 
be,  rebuke  her  disease,  restore  her  to  health,  and  may 
she  be  spared  to  much  usefulness  in  her  day ;  and,  O 
gracious  God,  look  in  mercy  on  my  only  remaining 
impenitent  granddaughter  and  impenitent  grandsons. 
It  is  high  time  that  at  least  two  of  them,  who  are 
under  my  roof,  should  be  anxious  for  the  salvation 
of  their  souls,  instead  of  thinking  only  on  what  they 
shall  eat  and  drink,  and  wherewithal  they  shall  be 
clothed.  Lord,  melt,  or,  rather,  take  away  the  stony 
heart  out  of  their  flesh,  and  give  them  hearts  of  flesh. 
Look  especially  on  Kobext,  now  uncertain  what  pro- 
fession he  shall  choose.  He  has  talents ;  Lord,  give 
him  grace ;  and  may  he  choose  the  most  honorable  of 
all  professions,  and  we  see  another  of  the  descendants 
of  those  that  prayed  for  their  seed  and  their  seed's  seed 
proclaiming  Thy  Gospel,  and  promoting  the  Lord's 
cause  in  this  wretched  world.  And  now,  Lord,  I  be- 
gin another  year  of  my  life.  Oh  how  much  I  have 
to  repent  of  during  the  year  that  I  now  finish,  and 
all  that  went  before.  Lord,  I  must  again  apply  to 
that  fountain  opened  for  sin  and  uncleanness,  the 
precious  blood  of  Christ,  that  cleanseth  from  all  sin. 
Lord,  pardon ;  Lord,  grant  me  more  grace,  more  pa- 
tience, more  perseverance,  more  long-suffering — a 
greater  disposition  to  bear  and  forbear,  when  I  can  do 
so  consistent  with  my  duty.  Undertake  for  Thine 
unworthy  handmaid,  whom  Thou  hast  so  long  honor- 


244 

ed  to  be  useful  to  Thy  family,  the  fatherless,  and  bless 
Thy  still  more  aged  handmaid,  Mrs.  Hamilton  ;  may 
her  last  days  be  her  best  days,  and  at  evening  time 
may  it  be  light  in  both  our  souls.  If  Thou  sparest 
me  another  year,  aid  me  in  preparing  lessons  that 
may  be  useful  in  training  up  a  seed  to  serve  Thee 
when  my  body  shall  be  at  rest  in  the  grave,  and  I 
have  taken  possession  of  the  mansion  my  blessed 
Master  has,  I  humbly  hope,  prepared  for  me. 


March  26,  1847. 

This  evening  was.  the  time  appointed  to  commence 
a  prayer-meeting  at  my  house  of  a  few  of  the  mem- 
bers of  Duane  Street  Church.  We  sent  notices  to  our 
neighbors,  and  our  dear  pastor  promised  to  open  it. 
The  night  was  uncommonly  stormy,  and  I  expected 
nobody  would  come.  Mr.  Lechie,  however,  came,  and 
our  dear  pastor ;  we  were  within  the  promise,  and  we 
had  at  least  family  worship.  Dr.  Alexander  read  the 
79th  Psalm,  and  commented  on  it.  We  then  sung  a 
few  verses,  and  he  made  a  very  suitable  prayer,  pray- 
ing for  me  and  mine  earnestly  and  fully. 

May  God  hear  and  answer  it  in  every  particular. 
And  now  the  Lord  has  not  only  heard,  but  answered 
my  prayer,  and  given  me  the  inestimable  privilege  of 
having  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise  ascending  from 
my  little  home.  O  Lord,  pour  out  on  us  a  spirit  of 
prayer  and  supplication,  and  on  all  who  shall  address 
Thy  throne  from  these  meetings ;  and  may  the  an- 


245 

swer  not  tarry,  but  may  we  soon  witness  an  outpour- 
ing of  Thy  Holy  Spirit  on  the  Church. 


May  26, 1847. 

Our  pastor  being  absent  at  the  General  Assembly, 
Dr.  Potts  supplied  his  pulpit  in  the  forenoon  of  Sab- 
bath, 23d,  preaching  from  the  words,  "  And  to  God, 
the  Judge  of  all,  and  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  per- 
fect." He  said  he  meant  "to  take  us  to  heaven." 
And  to  heaven,  in  mind,  he  took  me ;  for,  blessed  be 
God,  all  whom  I  love  I  trust  are  there.  He  was  very 
tender;  and  as  I  had  just  heard  that  my  dear  old 
friend,  Mrs.  Lindsay,  was  probably  about  to  follow 
her  friends  and  mine,  my  tears  flowed  during  nearly 
all  the  service.  From  church  I  went  to  see  Mrs. 
Lindsay.  She  was  very  much  pleased  to  see  me,  and 
appeared  and  spoke  as  if  she  knew  she  would  soon 
be  in  heaven ;  but  her  mind  wandered  a  great  deal, 
and  she  was  very  restless.  I  read  to  her  the  chapter 
Dr.  Potts  had  spoken  from,  and  many  other  portions 
of  Scripture — the  14th  of  John's  Gospel,  and  Psalms ; 
but  she  dozed  a  great  deal,  and  when  awake  her  mind 
wandered,  which  we  regretted.  Dr.  M'Elroy  called 
in  the  afternoon,  spoke  to  her,  and  prayed  for  her.  I 
remained  with  her  till  evening,  and  spent  the  greater 
part  of  Monday  with  her.  I  intended  to  have  seen 
the  last  of  her ;  but,  as  the  doctor  said  it  would  be 
but  a  few  hours,  and  she  seemed  insensible,  I  feared 
it  would  be  too  much  for  me ;  and,  of  course,  I  would 


246  MES.  bethune's  weitings. 

have  to  stay  all  niglit,  or  leave  her  while  alive ;  ac- 
cordingl}^,  I  took  my  last  look  of  as  dear  and  kind  a 
friend  as  I  ever  had,  and  returned  to  my  lonely  home 
about  ten  at  night.  She  departed  at  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  Tuesday,  May  25. 

"Happy  soul,  thy  days  are  ended — 
All  thy  mourning  days  below." 

Another  Christian  friend  has  entered  her  rest. 
Mrs.  Nexsen,  after  years  of  suffering,  was  buried  Sab- 
bath afternoon,  when  we  sung  these  lines : 

"•Part  of  the  flock  have  cross'd  the  flood, 
And  part  are  crossing  now." 

I  thought  of  both  friends;  Mrs.  Nexsen  as  already 
across  the  flood,  and  Mrs.  Lindsay  as  still  in  the  swell- 
ings of  Jordan.  Blessed  be  the  God  and  Father  of 
our  Lord  and  Savior,  who  made  the  passage  safe  for 
His  people,  so  that  I  trust  I  can  say,  "  Though  I  walk 
through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will 
fear  no  evil  if  Thou  art  with  me,  and  Thy  rod  and 
staff  comfort  me."  I  ask  one  thing,  that  Thy  sensi- 
ble presence  may  be  with  me,  and  no  distracting  or 
wandering  thoughts  annoy  me.  I  must  not  forget 
Mrs.  Lindsay's  dying  request  to  my  son  :  "  Tell  your 
son  from  me  that  the  next  time  he  publishes  any 
thing  he  must  print  Erskine's  sermons  on  these 
words :  '  Do  as  Thou  hast  said.'  "  She  named  more 
than  one  to  whom  it  was  the  means  of  their  conver- 
sion. She  also  said,  "  I  will  not  need  my  vault  any 
more,  and  I  leave  it  to  you ;  you  may  put  any  one 
there  you  choose;  perhaps  it  may  heljD  some  poor 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  247 

body."  She  repeated  this  twice.  On  Wednesday  aft- 
ernoon she  was  conveyed  to  her  long  home.  Dr. 
M'Elroy  made  an  address,  enumerating  many  of  her 
Christian  graces,  and  spoke  highly  of  her ;  but  the 
half  was  not  told.  Dr.  Knox  prayed,  and  most  fer- 
ventl}^,  for  the  aged,  for  which  I  was  thankful,  and  in 
which  I  joined.     My  days,  I  rather  think,  will  be  few. 


Sabbath,  June  13,  1847. 

•  Dr.  Alexander  read  the  40th  of  Isaiah,  and  took 
his  text  from  the  8d  verse :  "  Prepare  ye  the  way  of 
the  Lord."  The  whole  scope  of  his  discourse  was  the 
duty  of  training  the  young  in  the  fear  of  God,  and 
urging  the  support  and  establishing  Sunday-schools. 
A  collection  for  the  American  Sabbath-school  Union 
was  taken  up,  amounting  to  upward  of  $600.  I  at- 
tended the  Sabbath-school  in  the  afternoon,  and  heard 
an  address  to  the  scholars.  A  young  man  preached, 
and  very  well  too,  in  the  afternoon,  from  the  1st  and 
2d  verses  of  the  2d  chapter  of  the  1st  Epistle  of  John, 
having  read  the  first  chapter  as  an  introduction  to 
his  subject :  "  My  little  children,  these  things  write 
I  unto  you,"  etc.  May  the  Lord  bless  all  the  good 
seed  sown  this  day  in  churches  and  Sunday-schools; 
and,  O  Lord,  wilt  Thou  give  me  fruit  in  my  own  lit- 
tle Sabbath  class.  Now,  when  Thou  hast  put  lover 
and  friend  far  from  me,  and  even  my  few  remaining 
relatives,  O  comfort,  and  support,  and  aid,  and  direct 
me  in  all  my  numerous  duties  and  cares.     Lord,  I  am 


248  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

sick  of  all  eartlily  dependences;  and  while  I  experi- 
ence that  it  is  not  in  man  to  direct  his  steps,  and  that 
vain  is  all  the  help  of  man,  even  if  I  had  it,  which 
Thou  knowest  I  have  not,  may  I  still  look  to  Thee, 
and  believe  that  Thou  wilt  never  leave  nor  forsake  me, 
but  make  plain  paths  for  my  feet.  Make  the  path  of 
duty  so  plain  as  if  I  heard  a  voice  behind  me  saying, 
"  This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it."  Be  with  me  through 
the  week,  and  all  Thou  knowest  I  have  to  do.  Lead 
me  to  a  suitable  teacher.  Give  wisdom  to  our  super- 
intendents in  the  Orphan  Asylum.  Eestore  23eace'  in 
our  Board.  O  may  we  be  more  anxious  to  do  all 
our  duties  with  a  single  eye  to  Thy  glory,  saying  less 
to  men  and  praying  more  to  Thee;  acknowledging 
Thee  in  all  our  ways,  and  then  we  may  trust  and  ex- 
perience more  than  we  do  that  Thou  wilt  direct  our 
steps.  As  to  temporals,  I  know  Thou  wilt  give  "food 
and  raiment,  and  therewith  may  we  be  content." 
And,  O  Lord,  preserve  to  me  my  reason  and  my 
judgment ;  and  O,  leave  me  not  in  this  world  to  be 
a  burden  to  myself  or  others. 

Take  me  home  to  the  mansions  prepared  for  me 
when  I  can  no  longer  take  care  of  myself  and  be  use- 
ful to  others.  Keep  Thy  good  hand  around  the  only 
son  of  his  widowed  mother,  and  all  my  children  and 
children's  children.  They  are  the  seed  of  the  right- 
eous; may  they  all  be  the  followers  of  those  who, 
through  faith  and  patience,  have  inherited  the  prom- 
ises.    Amen. 


MRS.  bethune's  writings.  249 

■  Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul, 

Let  me  to  Thy  bosom  fly, 
While  the  billows  near  me  roll, 

While  the  tempest  still  is  high." 


August  16,  1847. 

0  Lord,  I  thank  Thee  for  the  restored  health  of 
my  beloved  son.  Be  with  him  in  the  good  work  in 
which  he  is  engaged,  and  may  he  be  a  beginning  of 
saving  mercy  to  the  "  Thousand  Isles."  I  have  often 
heard  my  dear  mother  speak  of  the  "  Thousand  Isles 
— Mille  Isles."  Little  did  she  think  her  grandson, 
the  son  of  her  beloved  D.  B.,  would  be  the  first 
to  carry  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  there.  Lord, 
prosper.  I  now  write  and  sing  these  verses  as  a 
prayer.  O  Lord,  grant  it.  May  I  experience  fully 
all  that  they  express. 

"  In  the  hour  of  pain  and  anguish,    • 
In  the  hour  when  death  draws  near, 

Suffer  not  my  heart  to  languish. 
Suffer  not  my  soul  to  fear. 

O  refresh  me  with  Thy  blessing, 

0  refresh  me  with  Thy  grace ; 
,            May  Thy  mercies,  never  ceasing. 

Fit  me  for  Thy  dwelling-place. 

"  Wlien  this  mortal  life  is  ended, 
Bid  me  in  Thine  arms  to  rest, 
Till,  by  angel  bands  attended, 

1  awake  among  the  bless'd. 

"Then,  O  crown  me  with  Thy  blessing, 
Through  the  triumphs  of  Thy  grace, 

L2 


250  MRS.  bethune's  writings. 

Then  shall  praises,  never  ceasing, 
Echo  through  Thy  dwelling-place. 

O  refresh  me  with  Thy  blessing, 
O  refresh  me  with  Thy  grace." 


THE  END. 


Franklin  Squake,  New  York,  Dec.  1862. 

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HAKPEE'S  PICTOKIAL  HISTORY 

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THE    GREAT    REBELLION 

IN 

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THE   RISE   OF 
THE    DUTCH    REPUBLIC. 

%  agistors. 
By  JOHN  LOTHEOP  MOTLEY. 

New  Edition.  With  a  Portrait  of  "William  of  Orange.  3  vols. 
8vo,  Muslin,  $Q  00 ;  Sheep,  $6  75 ;  Half  Calf  antique,  $9  00 ; 
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We  regard  tliis  work  as  the  best  contribution  to  modem  history  that  has  yet 
been  made  by  an  American. — Methodist  Quwterly  Review. 

The  "History  of  the  Dutch  Republic"  is  a  great  gift  to  us;  but  the  heart  and 
earnestness  that  beat  thi-ough  all  its  pages  are  greater,  for  they  give  us  most 
timely  inspiration  to  vindicate  the  true  ideas  of  our  country,  and  to  compose  an 
able  history  of  our  own. — Chnstian  Examiner  (Boston). 

This  work  bears  on  its  face  the  evidences  of  scholarship  and  research.  The 
arrangement  is  clear  and  effective ;  the  style  energetic,  lively,  and  often  brilliant. 
•  *  *  Mr.  Motley's  instructive  volumes  will,  we  trust,  have  a  circulation  commen- 
surate with  their  interest  and  va.lue.— Protestant  Episcopal  Quarterhj  Review. 

To  the  illustration  of  this  most  interesting  period  Mr.  Motley  has  brought  the 
matured  powers  of  a  vigorous  and  brilliant  mind,  and  the  abundant  fruits  of  pa- 
tient and  judicious  study  and  deep  reflection.  The  result  is,  one  of  the  most 
important  contributions  to  historical  literature  that  have  been  made  in  this  coun- 
try.— North  American  Review. 

"We  would  conclude  this  notice  by  earnestly  recommending  our  readers  to  pro- 
cure for  themselves  this  truly  great  and  admirable  work,  by  the  production  of 
which  the  anther  has  conferred  no  less  honor  upon  his  country  than  he  has  won 
praise  and  fame  for  himself,  and  than  which,  we  can  assure  them,  they  can  find 
nothing  more  attractive  or  interesting  within  the  compass  of  modern  literature. 
— Evangelical  Review. 

It  is  not  often  that  we  have  the  pleasure  of  commending  to  the  attention  of  the 
lover  of  books  a  work  of  such  extraordinary  aud  unexceptionable  excellence  aa 
this  one. — Universalist  Quarterly  Review. 

There  are  an  elevation  and  a  classic  polish  in  these  volumes,  and  a  felicity  of 
grouping  and  of  portraiture,  which  invest  the  subject  with  the  attractions  of  a 
living  and  stirring  episode  in  the  grand  historic  dra.ma.—Souther7i  Methodist 
Quarterly  Review. 

The  author  writes  with  a  genial  glow  and  love  of  his  subject. — Presbyterian 
Quarterly  Review. 

Mr.  Motley  is  a  sturdy  Republican  and  a  hearty  Protestant.  His  style  is  live- 
ly and  picturesque,  and  his  work  is  an  honor  and  an  important  accession  to  our 
national  literature. — Church  Revieiv. 

Mr.  Motley's  work  is  an  important  one,  the  result  of  profound  research,  sincere 
convictions,  sound  principles,  and  manly  sentiments;  and  even  those  who  are 
most  familiar  with  the  history  of  the  period  will  find  in  it  a  fresh  and  vivid  ad- 
dition to  their  previous  knowledge.  It  does  honor  to  American  literature,  and 
would  do  honor  to  the  literature  of  any  country  in  the  world. — Edinburgh  Re- 
view. 

A  serious  chasm  in  English  historical  literature  has  been  (by  this  book)  very 
remarkably  filled.  *  *  *  A  history  as  complete  as  industry  and  genius  can  make 
it  now  lies  before  us,  of  tlie  first  twenty  years  of  the  revolt  of  the  United  Prov- 
inces. •  *  *  AH  the  essentials  of  a  great  writer  Mr.  Motley  eminently  possesses. 
His  mind  is  broad,  his  industry  unwearied.  In  power  of  dramatic  description 
no  modern  historian,  except,  perhaps,  Mr.  Carlyle,  surpasses  him,  and  in  analy- 
^  of  character  he  is  elaborate  and  distinct. — Westminster  RevieuK 


MOTLEY'S  KISE  OP  THE  DUTCH  KEPUBLia 

It  is  a  work  of  real  historical  value,  the  result  of  accurate  criticism,  written 
in  a  liberal  spirit,  and  from  first  to  last  deeply  interesting. — Athenceum. 

The  style  is  excellent,  clear,  vivid,  eloquent ;  and  the  industry  with  which 
original  sources  have  been  investigated,  and  through  which  new  light  has  been 
shed  over  perplexed  incidents  and  characters,  entitles  Mr.  Motley  to  a  high  rank 
in  the  literature  of  an  age  peculiarly  rich  in  history. — Sorth  British  lieview. 

It  abounds  in  new  information,  and,  as  a  first  work,  commands  a  very  cordial 
recognition,  not  merely  of  the  promise  it  gives,  but  of  the  extent  and  importance  ■ 
of  the  labor  actually  performed  on  it. — London  Examiner. 

Mr.  Motley's  "History"  is  a  work  of  which  any  country  might  be  proud. 

Press  (London). 

Mr.  Motley's  History  will  be  a  standard  book  of  reference  in  historical  litera- 
ture.— London  Literary  Gazette. 

Mr.  IMotley  haa  searched  the  whole  range  of  historical  documents  necessary  to 
the  composition  of  his  work. — London  Leader. 

This  is  really  a  great  work.  It  belongs  to  the  class  of  books  in  which  we 
rstnge  our  Grotes,  Milmans,  Merivales,  and  Macaulays,  as  the  glories  of  English 
literature  in  the  department  of  history.  *  *  *  Mr.  Motley's  gifts  as  a  historical 
writer  are  among  the  highest  and  xasQsl.—Nonconforinid  (Loudon). 

Mr.  Motley's  volumes  will  well  repay  perusal,  *  *  *  For  his  learning,  his  liberal 
tone,  and  his  generous  enthusiasm,  we  heartily  commend  him,  and  bid  him  good 
speed  for  the  remainer  of  his  interesting  and  heroic  narrative. — Saturday  Review. 

The  story  is  a  noble  one,  and  is  worthily  treated.  *  *  *  Mr.  Motley  has  had  the 
patience  to  unravel,  with  unfailing  perseverance,  the  thousand  intricate  plots  of 
the  adversaries  of  the  Prince  of  Orange;  but  the  details  and  the  literal  extracts 
which  he  has  derived  from  original  documents,  and  transferred  to  his  pages, 
give  a  truthful  color  and  a  picturesque  effect,  which  are  especially  charming. — 
London  Daily  News. 

M.  Lothrop  Motley  dans  son  magnifique  tableau  de  la  formation  de  notre  Ee- 
publique.— Gr.  Geoen  Van  Teinsteeek. 

Our  accomplished  countryman,  Mr.  J.  Lothrop  Motley,  who,  during  the  last 
five  years,  for  the  better  prosecution  of  his  labors,  has  established  his  residence 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  scenes  of  his  narrative.  No  one  acquainted  with  the 
fine  powers  of  mind  possessed  by  this  scholar,  and  the  earnestness  with  which  he 
has  devoted  himself  to  the  task,  can  doubt  tliat  he  will  do  full  justice  to  his  im- 
portant but  difficult  subject. — W.  H.  Pkescoit. 

The  production  of  such  a  work  as  this  astonishes,  while  it  gratifies  the  pride 
of  the  American  reader. — N.  Y.  Observer. 

The  "Eise  of  the  Dutch  Republic"  at  once,  and  by  acclamation,  takes  its 
place  by  the  "  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Eoman  Empire,"  as  a  work  which,  wheth- 
er for  research,  substance,  or  style,  will  never  be  superseded.— iV.  Y.  Albion. 

A  work  upon  which  all  who  read  the  English  language  may  congratulate 
themselves.— xV(!?w  Yorker  Handels  Zcitting. 

Mr.  Motley's  place  is  now  (alluding  to  this  book)  with  Hallam  and  Lord  Ma- 
hon,  Alison  and  Macanlay  in  the  Old  (Jountry,  and  with  Washington  Irving, 
Prescott,  and  Bancroft  in  this.— ^V.  Y.  Times. 

The  authority,  in  the  English  tongue,  for  the  history  of  the  period  and  people 
to  which  it  refers.— X  Y.  Courier  and  Enqnirer. 

This  work  at  once  places  the  author  on  the  list  of  American  historians  which 
has  been  so  signally  illustrated  by  the  names  of  Irving,  Prescott,  Bancroft,  and 
Hildreth. — Boston  Times. 

The  work  is  a  noble  one,  Rnd  a  most  desirable  acquisition  to  our  historical  lit- 
erature.—i/oftHe  Advertiser. 

Such  a  work  is  an  honor  to  lis  author,  to  his  countiy,  and  to  the  age  in  which 
it  was  written. — Ohio  Farmer. 


Published  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 

Franklin  Square,  New  York, 


Hakpek  &  BROTHERS  will  send  the  above  "Work  by  Mail  (postage  paid  (for  any 
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Mr.  Motley,  the  American  historian  of  the  United  Netherlands — ice  oive  him 
English  homage. — London  Times. 

"  Jls  interesting  as  a  romance.,  and  as  reliable  as  a  proposition  of  Euclid^ 


History  of 
The  United  Netherlands. 

fKOM   THE   DEATH  OF   WILLIAM   THE   SILENT  TO  THE   SYNOD   OF   DOET.      WITH  A 

FULL  YIEW  OF  THE   ENGLISH-DUTCH   8TEUGGLE   AGAINST   SPAIN,   AND 

OF  THE  ORIGIN   AND  DESTRUCTION   OF   THE  SPANISH 

ARMADA. 

Bt  JOHN  LOTHEOP  MOTLEY,  LL.D.,  D.C.L., 

Corresponding  Member  of  the  Institute  of  France,  Author  of  "The  Rise  of  the 
Dutch  Republic." 

"With  Portraits  and  Map. 

2  Y0l3.  8vo,  MusUn,  $4  00;  Sheep,  $4  50;  Half  Calf,  $G  00. 

Critical  Notices. 

His  living  and  truthful  picture  of  events Quarterly  Revieio  (London),  Jan.» 

1861. 

Fertile  as  the  present  ag^  has  been  in  historical  works  of  the  highest  merit, 
none  of  them  can  be  ranked  abore  these  volumes  in  the  grand  qntilities  of  interest, 
accuracy,  and  truth. — Edinburgh  Quurlerly  Review.,  Jan.,  1861. 

This  iioble  work.  —  Westminster  Review  (London). 

One  of  the  most  fascinating  as  well  as  important  histories  of  the  century Cor. 

N.  V.  Evening  Post. 

The  careful'  study  of  these  volumes  will  infallibly  afford  a  feast  both  rich  and 
Tarc—Baltim  ore  Repuhlican. 

Already  takes  a  rank  among  standard  works  of  history. — London  Critic. 

Mr.  Motley's  prose  epic — London  Spectator. 

Its  pages  are  pregnant  with  instruction. — London  Literary  Gazette. 

We  may  profit  by  almost  every  page  of  his  narrative.  All  the  topics  which  agi- 
tate us  now  are  more  or  less  vividly  presented  in  the  History  of  the  United  Nether- 
lands  Neic  York  Times. 

Bears  on  eveiy  page  marks  of  the  same  vigorous  mind  that  produced  "The  Rise 
of  the  Dutch  Republic;"  but  the  new  work  is  riper,  mellower,  and  though  equally 
racy  of  the  soil,  softer  flavored.  The  inspiring  idea  which  breathes  through  Mr. 
Motley's  hi? tori^s  and  colors  the  whole  ttxture  of  hi.->  narrative,  is  the  grandeur  of 
that  memorable  struggle  in  the  16  h  century  by  which  the  human  mind  broke  the 
thraldom  of  relip;i(iu^intoleranc3  and  achieved  its  independence — The  World,  N.  V. 

The  name  of  ]MotU^y  now  stands  in  the  very  front  rank  of  living  historians,  llis 
Du^ch^  Republic  took  the  world  by  Fuvpri-^o ;  but  the  favoral  le  verdict  then  given 
is  now  only  the  more  deliberately  confirmed  on  the  publication  of  the  continued 
Btory  under  the  title  of  the  Hisoryof  the  United  Ketherloyids.  All  the  nerve, 
and  power,  and  substance  of  juicy  life  are  there,  lending  a  charm  to  every  page.-^ 
Church  .Tmiriml.,  .V.  1'. 

Motl  y,  indeed,  has  produced  a  prose  epic,  and  his  fighting  scenes  are  as  real, 
IpiritPd,  and  life-like  as  the  combats  in  the  Iliad — The  Pi-ess  (Phila.). 

His  history  is  as  interesting  as  a  romance,  and  as  reliable  as  a  proposition  of  Fu- 
Mid.  Clio  never  had  a  more  faithful  disciple.  We  advise  every  reader  whose 
ftieans  will  pprmit  to  become  the  o\vner  of  these  fascinating  volumi  s,  assuring  him 
•Jhat  he  will  never  regret  the  investment Christian  Intelligencer,  N.  Y. 

Published  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 

Franklin  Square,  New  York. 

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'/or  any  distance  in  the  United  States  under  3000  miles),  ob  receipt  of  the  Money. 


H 


T 


O 


By  Thomas  Carlyle. 

ISTORY  OF  FRIEDRICH  II.  OF  PRUSSIA,  CALL- 
ED FREDERICK  THE  GREAT.  By  Thomas 
Carlyle.  3  vols,  now  ready.  Portrait,  Maps,  and 
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HE  FRENCH  REVOLUTION.  A  History.  By 
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LIVER  CROMWELL'S  LETTERS  AND  SPEECH- 
ES. Including  Supplement  to  the  First  Edition.  With 
Elucidations.  By  Thomas  Carlyle.  Portraits.  2 
vols.  i2mo.  Cloth,  $2  00;  Sheep,  $2  50;  Half  Calf, 

$3  70. 

AST  AND  PRESENT,  CHARTISM,  AND  SAR- 
TOR RESARTUS.  By  Thomas  Carlyle.  New 
Edition.  One  vol.  i2mo,  Cloth,  $1  00;  Sheep, 
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Mr.  Carlyle  is  about  the  only  living  writer  whose  opinions  are 
of  value,  even  when  it  is  impossible  to  agree  with  them.  No  one 
is  more  fond  than  he  of  paradox,  but  few  men's  paradoxes  hint  at 
so  important  truths.  No  one  with  a  more  autocratic  dogmatism 
sets  up  strong  men  as  heroes,  or  condemns  the  hapless  possessors 
of  pot-bellies  to  infamy;  but  then  his  judgments,  even  M'here  they 
can  not  be  confinned,  always  enforce  some  weighty  principle  which 
we  were  in  danger  of  forgetting.  And  if  it  sometimes  happens 
that  neither  the  hero  nor  the  principles  commend  themselves,  still 
the  thoroughness  of  the  execution  and  the  fire  with  which  all  his 
writings  are  instinct,  never  fail  to  make  a  great  work. — London  Re- 
view. 

PubUshed  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 

Franklin  Square,  N.  T. 


CCP"  Sent  by  Mail,  postnpe  prepaid  (for  any  distance  in  the  United  Statea  under 
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CURTIS'S    HISTORY 

OF  THE 

CONSTITUTION. 


HISTOEY  OF  THE  ORIGIN,  FORMATION,  AND  ADOP- 
TION OF  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES.  By  George  Ticknor  Curtis.  Complete  in  2  vols. 
8vo,  Muslin,  $4  00  ;  Law  Sheep,  $5  00  ;  Half  Calf,  $6  00. 

A  book  so  thorough  as  this  in  the  comprehension  of  its  subject,  so  impartial 
in  the  summing  up  of  its  judgments,  so  well  considered  in  its  method,  and  so 
truthful  in  its  matter,  may  safely  challenge  the  most  exhaustive  criticism.  The 
Constitutional  History  of  our  country  has  not  before  been  made  the  subject  of  a 
special  treatise.  "We  may  congratulate  ourselves  that  an  author  has  been  found 
60  capable  to  do  full  j  ustice  to  it ;  for  that  the  work  will  take  its  rank  among  the 
received  text-books  of  our  political  literature  will  be  questioned  by  no  one  who 
has  given  it  a  careful  perusal. — National  Intelligencer. 

We  know  of  no  person  who  is  better  qualified  (now  that  the  late  Daniel  Web- 
ster is  no  more),  to  undertake  this  important  history. — Boston  Journal. 

It  will  take  its  place  among  the  classics  of  American  literature. — Boston  Cour- 
ier. 

The  author  has  given  years  to  the  preliminary  studies,  and  nothing  has  es- 
caped him  in  the  patient  and  conscientious  researches  to  which  he  has  devoted 
60  ample  a  portion  of  time.  Indeed,  the  work  has  been  so  thoroughly  perforrned 
that  it  will  never  need  to  be  done  over  again ;  for  the  sources  have  been  exhaust- 
ed, and  the  materials  put  together  with  so  much  judgment  and  artistic  skill  that 
taste  and  the  sense  of  completeness  are  entirely  satisfied. — N.  Y.  Daily  Times. 

A  most  important  and  valuable  contribution  to  the  historical  and  political  lit- 
erature of  the  United  States.  All  publicists  and  students  of  public  law  will  be 
grateful  to  Mr.  Curtis  for  the  diligence  and  assiduity  with  which  he  has  wrought 
out  the  great  mine  of  diplomatic  lore  in  which  the  foundations  of  the  American 
Constitution  are  laid,  and  for  the  light  he  has  thrown  on  his  wide  and  arduous 
subject. — London  Morning  Chronicle. 

To  trace  the  history  of  the  formation  ©f  the  Constitution,  and  explain  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  time  and  country  out  of  which  its  various  provisions  grew,  is  a 
task  worthy  of  the  highest  talent.  To  have  performed  that  task  in  a  satisfacto- 
ry manner  is  an  achievement  with  which  an  honorable  ambition  may  well  be 
gratified.  We  can  honestly  say  that  in  our  opinion  Mr.  Curtis  has  fairly  won 
this  distinction. — iV.  Y.  Courier  and  Enquirer. 

We  have  seen  no  history  which  suiimsses  it  in  the  essential  qualities  of  a 
standard  work  destined  to  hold  a  permanent  place  in  the  impartial  judgment  of 
future  generations. — Boston  Traveler. 

Should  the  second  volume  sustain  the  character  of  the  first,  we  hazard  nothing 
in  claiming  for  the  entire  publication  the  character  of  a  standard  work.  It  will 
furnish  the  only  sure  guide  to  the  interpretation  of  the  Constitution,  by  unfolding 
historically  the  wants  it  was  intended  to  supply,  and  the  evils  which  it  was  in- 
tended to  remedy. — Boston  Dailg  Advertiser. 

This  volume  is  an  important  contribution  to  our  constitutional  and  historical 
literature.  «  *  »  Every  true  friend  of  the  Constitution  will  gladly  welcome  it. 
The  author  has  presented  a  narrative  clear  and  interesting.  It  evinces  careful 
research,  skillful  handling  of  material,  lucid  statement,  and  a  desire  to  write  in 
a  tone  and  manner  worthy  of  the  great  theme. — Boston  Post. 

Published  by  HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 

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THE 

LAND  AND  THE  BOOK; 

OB, 

BIBLICAL  ILLUSTRATIONS  DRAWN  FROM  THE  MANNERS 
AND  CUSTOMS,  THE  SCENES  AND  SCENERY  OP 

THE  HOLY  LAND.  ^ 

By  W.  M.  THOMSON,  D.D., 

Twenty-five  Years  a  Missionary  of  the  A.B.C.F.M.  in  Syria  and  Palestine. 

With  two  elaborate  Maps  of  Palestine,  an  accurate  Plan  of  Jeru- 
salem, and  several  hundred  Engravings  representing  the  Scenery, 
Topography,  and  Productions  of  the  Holy  Land,  and  the  Cos- 
tumes, Manners,  and  Habits  of  the  People.  Two  elegant  Large 
12mo  Volumes,  Muslin,  $3  50 ;  Half  Calf,  $5  20. 

The  Land  of  the  Bible  is  part  of  the  Divine  Revelation.  It  bears 
testimony  essential  to  faith,  and  gives  lessons  invaluable  in  exposi- 
tion. Both  have  been  written  all  over  the  fair  face  of  Palestine, 
and  deeply  graven  there  by  the  finger  of  God  in  characters  of  living 
light.  To  collect  this  testimony  and  popularize  these  lessons  for 
the  biblical  student  of  every  age  and  class  is  the  prominent  design 
of  this  work.  For  twentij-five  years  the  Author  has  been  permitted 
to  read  the  Book  by  the  light  which  the  Land  sheds  upon  it ;  and 
he  now  hands  over  this  friendly  torch  to  those  who  have  not  been 
thus  favored.  In  this  attempt  the  pencil  has  been  employed  to  aid 
the  pen.  A  large  number  of  pictorial  illustrations  are  introduced, 
many  of  them  original,  and  all  giving  a  genuine  and  true  represen- 
tation of  things  in  the  actual  Holy  Land  of  the  present  day.  They 
are  not  fancy  sketches  of  imaginary  scenes  thrown  in  to  embellish 
the  page,  but  pictures  of  living  manners,  studies  of  sacred  topogra- 
phy, or  exponents  of  interesting  biblical  allusions,  which  will  add 
greatly  to  the  value  of  the  work. 

PuUished  hj  HARPER  &  BROTHERS, 

Franklin  Square,  New  Yorh 


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ceipt  of  One  Dollar. 

LIDDELL  AND  SMITH'S 

SCHOOL  HISTOEIES  OF 

GREECE    AND    ROME. 


DR.  SMITH'S  HISTORY  OF  GREECE. 

A  School  History  of  Greece,  from  the  Earliest  Times  to  the  Ro- 
man Conquest,  with  Sui)plementary  Chapters  on  the  History 
of  Literature  and  Art.     By  Wm.  Smith,  LL.D.,  Classical  Ex- 
aminer in  the  University  of  London,  and  Editor  of  the  "Class- 
ical Dictionaries."      Revised,  with  an  Appendix,  by  George 
W.  Greene,  A.M.     Illustrated  by  100  Engravings  on  Wood. 
(Uniform  with  "Liddell's  Rome"  and  "The   Student's  Gib- 
bon.")    New  Edition.     679  pages,  Large  12mo,  Muslin,  $1  GO. 
We  have  much  satisfaction  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  excellence  of  the  plan 
on  which  Dr.  Wm.  Smith  has  proceeded,  and  the  careful,  scliolar-like  manner 
in  which  lie  has  carried  it  out.     The  great  distinctive  feature,  however,  is  the 
chapters  on  Literature  and  Art.     This  gives  it  a  decided  advantage  over  all  pre- 
vious works  of  the  kind. — Athenceum. 


DEAN  LIDDELL'S  HISTORY  OF  ROME. 

A  School  History  of  Rome,  from  the  Earliest  Times  to  the  Estab- 
lishment of  the  Empire,  with  Chapters  on  the  History  of  Liter- 
ature and  Art.  By  Henry  G.  Liddell,  D.D.,  Dean  of  Christ 
Church,  Oxford.  Illustrated  by  numerous  Wood-cuts.  (Uni- 
form with  "The  Student's  Gibbon"  and  "Smith's  History  of 
Greece.")  778  pages,  Large  12mo,  Muslin,  $1  00. 
This  excellent  Hi.story  of  Rome,  from  the  pen  of  one  of  the  most  celebrated 

scholars  of  the  day,  loill  supersede  every  other  icork  on  the  subject.     The  volume 

conforms  with  the  "History  of  Greece,"  by  Dr.  Wm.  Smith,  in  typography, 

literary  method,  and  illustration, — John  Bull. 


DR.  SMITH'S  STUDENT'S  GIBBON. 

The  History  of  the  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire.     By 
Edward  Gibbon.     Abridged.     Incorporating  the  Researches 
of  Recent  Commentators.     By  William  Smith,  LL.D.,  Editor 
of  the  "  Classical  Dictionary"  and  "  A  Dictionary  of  Greek  and 
Roman  Antiquities."     Illustrated  by  100  Engravings  on  Wood. 
(Uniform  with  "  Liddell's  Rome.")     705  pages,  Large  12mo, 
Muslin,  $1  00. 
Dr.  Wm.  Smith  has  drawn  up  an  admirable  abridgment  of  Gibbon's  Roman 
Empire,  using,  as  far  as  possible,  the  language  of  the  original,  and  adopting  the 
plan  of  omitting  or  treating  briefly  circumstances  of  inferior  importance,  bo  that 
the  grand  events  wliich  have  influenced  the  history  of  the  world  may  be  nar- 
rated at  length. — Cambridge  Chronicle. 

Published  by  HARPER    &    BROTHERS, 

Franklin    Square,  Nevr  Yotk. 


COMPLETIOIf  OF  GROTE'S  HISTORY  OF  GREECE. 


A   HISTORY   OF    GREECE, 

I^ROM  THE   EARLIEST  PERIOD  TO  THE   CLOSE  OF  THE  GENERA- 
TION CONTEMPORARY  WITH  ALEXANDER  THE  GREAT- 

BY  GEORGE  GROTE,  ESQ. 

Vol.  XII.  contains  Portrait,  Maps,  and  Index.     Complete  in  12  vols.  12mo, 
Muslin,  $9  00  ;  Sheep,  $12  00  ;  Half  Calf,  $15  00. 

It  is  not  often  that  a  work  of  such  magnitude  is  undertaken  ;  more  seldom  still 
is  such  a  work  so  perseveringly  carried  on,  and  so  soon  and  yet  so  worthily  ac- 
complished. Mr.  Grote  has  illustrated  and  invested  with  an  entirely  new  signifi- 
cance a  portion  of  the  past  history  of  humanity,  which  he,  perhaps,  thinks  the  most 
splendid  that  has  been,  and  which  all  allow  to  have  been  very  splendid.  He  has  made 
great  Greeks  live  again  before  us,  and  has  enabled  us  to  realize  Greek  modes  of  think- 
ing. He  has  added  a  great  historical  work  to  the  language,  taking  its  place  with 
other  great  histories,  and  yet  not  like  any  of  them  in  the  special  combination  of 
merits  which  it  exhibits  :  scholarship  and  learning  such  as  we  have  been  ac- 
customed to  demand  only  in  Germans  ;  an  art  of  grouping  and  narration  different 
from  that  of  Hume,  different  from  that  of  Gibbon,  and  yet  producing  the  effect  of 
sustained  charm  and  pleasure  ;  a  peculiarly  keen  interest  in  events  of  the  political 
order,  and  a  wide  knowledge  of  the  business  of  politics  ;  and,  finally,  harmonizing 
all,  a  spirit  of  sober  philosophical  generalization  always  tending  to  view  facts 
collectively  in  their  speculative  bearing  as  well  as  to  record  them  individually. 
It  is  at  once  an  ample  and  detailed  narrative  of  the  history  of  Greece,  and  a  lucid 
philosophy  of  Grecian  history. —  London  AthencBum,  March  8,  1656. 

Mr.  Grote  will  be  emphatically  the  historian  of  the  people  of  Greece. — Dublin 
University  Magazine. 

The  acute  intelligence,  the  discipline,  faculty  of  intellect,  and  the  excellent  eru- 
dition every  one  would  look  for  from  Mr.  Grote  ;  but  they  will  here  also  find  the 
element  which  harmonizes  these,  and  without  which,  on  such  a  theme,  an  orderly 
and  solid  work  could  not  have  been  written. —  Examiner. 

A  work  second  to  that  of  Gibbon  alone  in  English  historical  literature.  Mr. 
Grote  gives  the  philosophy  as  well  as  the  facts  ot  history,  and  it  would  be  difficult 
to  find  an  author  combining  in  the  same  degree  the  accurate  learning  of  the  schol- 
ar with  the  experience  of  a  practical  statesman.  The  completion  of  this  great 
work  may  well  be  hailed  with  some  degree  of  national  pride  and  satisfaction. — 
Literary  Gazette,  March.  8,  1856. 

The  better  acquainted  any  one  is  with  Grecian  history,  and  with  the  manner  in 
which  that  history  has  heretofore  been  written,  the  higher  will  be  his  estimation 
of  this  work.  Mr.  Grote's  familiarity  both  with  the  great  highways  and  the  ob- 
scurest by-paths  of  Grecian  literature  and  antiquity  has  seldom  been  equaled,  and 
not  often  approached,  in  unlearned  England  ;  while  those  Germans  who  have  ri- 
valed it  ha^e  seldom  possessed  the  quality  which  eminently  characterizes  Mr. 
Grote,  of  keeping  historical  imagination  severely  under  the  restraints  of  evidence. 
The  great  charm  of  Mr.  Grote's  history  has  been  throughout  the  cordial  admira' 
tion  he  feels  for  the  people  whose  acts  and  fortunes  he  has  to  relate.  *  *  We  bid 
Mr.  Grote  farewell ;  heartily  congratulating  him  on  the  conclusion  of  a  work  which 
is  a  monument  of  English  learning,  of  English  clear-sightedness,  and  of  English 
love  of  freedom  and  the  characters  it  produces. — Spectator 

Endeavor  to  become  acquainted  with  Mr.  Grote,  who  is  engaged  on  a  Greek 
History.  I  expect  a  great  deal  from  this  production. — Niebuhr,  the  Historian, 
to  Professor  Lieber. 

The  author  has  now  incontestably  won  for  himself  the  title,  not  merely  of  a 
historian,  but  oi  the  historian  of  Greece. — Quarterly  Review. 

Mr.  Grote  is,  beyond  all  question,  the  historian  of  Greece,  unrivaled,  so  far  as 
we  know,  in  the  erudition  and  genius  with  which  he  has  revived  the  picture  of  a 
distant  past,  and  brought  home  every  part  and  feature  of  its  history  to  our  intel- 
lects and  our  hearts. — London  Times. 

For  becoming  dignity  of  style,  unforced  adaptation  of  results  to  principles,  care- 
ful verification  of  theory  by  fact,  and  impregnation  of  fact  by  theory — for  extensive 
and  well-weiirhed  learning,  employed  with  intelligence  and  taste,  we  have  seen  no 
historical  work  of  modern  times  which  we  would  place  above  Mr.  Grote's  histo- 
ry.— Morning  Chronicle. 

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ter inclosing  Six  Cents  in  postage  stamps.  The  attention  of  gen- 
tlemen, in  town  or  country,  designing  to  form  Libraries  or  enrich 
their  literary  collections,  is  respectfully  invited  to  this  Catalogue, 
which  will  be  found  to  comprise  a  large  proportion  of  the  standard 
iind  most  esteemed  works  in  English  Literature — comprehending 
more  than  two  thousand  volumes — which  are  offered,  in  most 
instances,,  at  less  than  one  half  the  cost  of  similar  productions  in 
England.  To  Librarians  and  others  connected  with  Colleges, 
Schools,  ifec,  who  may  not  have  access  to  a  reliable  guide  in  form- 
ing the  true  estimate  of  literary  productions,  it  is  believed  this  Cat- 
alogue will  prove  especially  valuable  as  a  manual  of  reference.  To 
prevent  disappointment,  it  is  suggested  that,  whenever  books  can 
not  be  obtained  through  any  bookseller  or  local  agent,  applications 
with  remittance  should  be  addressed  direct  to  the  Publishers,  which 
will  meet  with  prompt  attention. 


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